SCORE Journal - The Official Publication of SCORE Off-Road Racing
Issue link: https://read.uberflip.com/i/1526915
PREPPED TO WIN A Look At Advanced Level Moto Prep Work For Baja Racing By Dan Sanchez Photos Provided by Giovanni Spinali The level of motorcycle riding talent within the SCORE Pro Moto Unlimited class is so high that more than a half-dozen current competitors this season can win a race. SCORE Baja races in this class are won by making the fewest mistakes and not missing any virtual checkpoints along the racecourse. However, top-level teams know that getting the motorcycle to the finish requires more than talented riders. Most teams will tell you that bike prep is the most important factor to winning, and there can be many modifications made to a bike in preparation for competition at such a high level. One of the riders who knows this the best, is multi-time Champion Giovanni Spinali, co-owner and leader of the 11x H.E.R.O. team. Along with the team’s winning riders, Arturo Salas Jr., Carter Klein, and Ciaran Naran, they are entering the second half of the SCORE World Desert Championship season with a new bike build. “The first half of the season we raced a SLR Honda bike, which comes already fully prepped,” said Spinali. “The bike was great, and we won the first two races this season. In between the SCORE Baja 500 and the SCORE Baja 400, we decided to take the bike upgrades into our own hands.” The H.E.R.O. team purchased a used Honda CRF 450X. However, because Spinali always raced Yamaha motorcycles, the team was unfamiliar with prepping a Honda, so they asked former champion Colton Udal at Champion Adventures to work with them. “Colton has the experience, knowledge, and skills to prep a motorcycle for Baja racing. Combined with his riding skills, we believe Champion Adventure’s motorcycle prepping is at the highest levels of the sport,” says Spinali. All prep begins with major upgrades and then moves into smaller, detailed modifications. But each one, large or small, makes the motorcycle fast and comfortable. Spinali walked through some of the items changed on this Honda in preparation for the SCORE Baja 400. MORE POWER PLEASE With this 450X, one of the first things Udall modifies is the engine’s cylinder head and swap-out the factory camshaft with an R-model, used in motocross bikes. “This gives the motorcycle a much bigger hit,” says Spinali. “It adds more power than the factory camshaft and changes the power curve to be more linear. We require a smooth power band, and the bike can top out at a higher speed with the right gearing. In our test of the bike after the build, we reached a top speed of 114mph.” Other engine/drivetrain modifications include a Hinson Clutch, FMF Exhaust, an IMS oversized fuel tank, and a Taco Moto ECU. Udall remaps the fuel and ignition curves to optimize all the components added to the engine set-up. “Colton also installed Dirt Trix sprockets which enables us to get correct gearing with these engine mods,” adds Spinali. “You can build a super-fast bike, but if the gearing is off, you can have trouble in slower technical areas of a course like Mike’s Sky Ranch. It’s a fine line to tune it all properly.” RIDE CAPABILITY AND COMFORT In Long-distance Baja races, moto racers know it’s important for the bike to be dependable but most importantly, comfortable. “A motorcycle needs a good suspension to be fast and safe,” says Spinali. “It’s not like the old days where we had to ride to save the bike to get to the finish. Modern motorcycles are very dependable, especially the engines. The main thing is that comfort builds confidence for the rider. If you’re going across whoops sections and the bike is not swapping out on the sides, it works right and builds confidence.” To add both comfort and safety, there are several changes Udall makes to the bike. Nitro Mousse foam inner tubes are added inside the Dunlop tires to prevent flats. Moving the footpegs back 5mm adds more leg room for the riders, so a set of IMS Core Enduro “sharp teeth” pegs are added. The factory handlebars and grips were replaced with ODI units designed for a more comfortable riding position. “Plastic grips are too hard and can give you blisters on a long ride,” says Spinali. “If they are too soft, you get an arm pump, so just the right compound is needed.” Riding over tough terrain for long distances is difficult, so the bike was outfitted with a Thrill Seekers seat cover with ribs on the top, to prevent riders from sliding back and forth. A Scott steering stabilizer helps smooth things out, especially when riding over whoops sections. When it comes to the shocks, Spinali and the team opted for AHM Factory Suspension components. A great benefit of this is that AHM includes free testing and bike set-up before each race with their competition kits. “The AHM factory linkage provides improved handling but also makes for a plush ride with added wheel travel,” says Spinali. “It absorbs small choppy bumps while providing a planted rear-end that you can trust in flat corners. This suspension also limits fatigue and absorbs Trophy Truck-sized bumps.” SMALL DETAILS Aside from upgrading the engine, and suspension, small details can make a big difference in Baja racing. Champion Adventures has a chain guide hangar and mount which keeps the chain in position under any circumstances. A Baja Designs XL80 LED light is mounted to the front handlebars. Another trick is to paint the front fender flat black. “This reduces glare at night which can otherwise add to rider fatigue,” says Spinali. “These Hondas are pretty good right from the factory, but all these changes, small and large, are important when racing at this level. With this newly prepped bike and three great riders, it is all a part of our goal to win as many races as we can and a championship.” “We also don’t forget to give back to Baja, and we do this at every race. We visit orphanages and donate items they need as well as our time. It also improves our team dynamics, which is great. Honestly, it’s hard not to get along when you’re winning.” The H.E.R.O. 11x team also recently received new sponsorship from Optima Batteries, which they are excited about. With this new bike build and the proven abilities of Salas Jr., Klein, and Naran, the team is ready to take on the SCORE Baja 400 and will start the race first in class. With two race wins under their belt, they have a good chance of winning a class championship, especially if they can win this race and do well at the SCORE Baja 1000. SJ