SCORE Journal - The Official Publication of SCORE Off-Road Racing
Issue link: https://read.uberflip.com/i/1528094
PREVIEW TO THE BFGOODRICH TIRES 57TH SCORE BAJA 1000 What’s Ahead For The Most Exciting Race Of The Season By Dan Sanchez Photos by Jack Wright nMedia3 There’s a lot at stake for many teams at this year’s BFGoodrich Tires 57th SCORE Baja 1000 race that takes place November 11th thru the 17th in Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico. While the SCORE Baja 1000 is the biggest race in off-road motorsports, it is also one that decides which racers finish the 2024 season with a class championship, and/or a Rod Hall SCORE Milestone Award Presented by Toyota Escondido. Along with class wins and the many miles finished at each race this season, teams earn series points which are dependent on the amount of entries in each class, the race, and finishing positions. This year, there are teams in various classes that will not only be fighting for a win, but also the completion of a perfect season with multiple race winning streaks, and a 2024 SCORE Class Championship. POINTS LEADERS BATTLING FOR A CHAMPIONSHIP SCORE TROPHY TRUCK The SCORE Trophy Truck class has a tight battle for the Class Championship. Heading into the BFGoodrich Tires 57th SCORE Baja 1000, the 2023 Champion Bryce Menzies, in the No. 1 Red Bull truck, is tied with Alan Ampudia in the No. 10 Papas & Beer truck. Also within close reach of a Class Championship is Tavo Vildosola in the No. 21 Mexican Logistics truck. 353 Points - Bryce Menzies began the season with a fourth place finish at the SCORE San Felipe 250 and the SCORE Baja 500. Then came back winning his fourth-in-a-row, SCORE Baja 400. 353 Points - Alan Ampudia began the season winning the SCORE San Felipe 250, then finished 10th at the SCORE Baja 500, and came back for a second place finish at the SCORE Baja 400. 348 Points - Tavo Vildosola had a third place finish at the SCORE San Felipe 250, a second place finish at the SCORE Baja 500, and finished fifth at the SCORE Baja 400. 339 Points - Chris Polvoorde has a chance to take the SCORE Trophy Truck Championship if certain conditions come to play. He was seventh at the SCORE San Felipe 250, third at the SCORE Baja 500, and fifth at the SCORE Baja 400 SCORE TROPHY TRUCK LEGENDS At this point in the season, it’s clear Gus Vildosola Sr. and Ricky Johnson have the best chance at winning the 2024 SCORE Trophy Truck Legends Championship for the third time in a row. Driving the No. 1L Mexican Logistics truck, the team could also make history, with a record 12th straight race win, if they finish first in class at the 57th SCORE Baja 1000. 321 Points - The 1L team of Gus Vildosola and Ricky Johnson have won every race, across the 2022 and 2023 consecutive SCORE seasons in a row. A win at this year’s SCORE Baja 1000 would make off-road racing history. 299 Points - Clay Lawrence in the No. 85L One-Nine truck could upset the 1L team’s quest if they win the class at the SCORE Baja 1000, and if the 85L truck breaks or has some kind of difficulty to finish far behind the class. Lawrence has teamed up with legendary racer Larry Roeseler, who together, bring some great competition to this class. Lawrence began the season with a third place finish at the SCORE San Felipe 250 and at the SCORE Baja 500, then a third place finish at the SCORE Baja 400. CLASS 1 The battle for a Class 1 Championship continues between RPI Racing and Wilson Motorsports. Cody Reid in the No. 168 RPI Buggy currently has the lead but must hold off both Brad Wilson in the No. 153 Wilson Motorsports car, and Kyle Quinn in the No. 138 car for the win at the 57th SCORE Baja 1000. 384 Points - Cody Reid began the season with a second place finish at the SCORE San Felipe 250 and a first place finish at the SCORE Baja 500. He finished second at the SCORE Baja 400 and needs a first place finish at the 57th SCORE Baja 1000 to win the Class Championship. 366 Points - Brad Wilson finished first at the SCORE San Felipe 250, followed by a second place finish at the SCORE Baja 500. With car difficulties, he finished 18th at the SCORE Baja 400, but could possibly win the Class 1 Championship with a first place finish at the 57th SCORE Baja 1000. 294 Points - Kyle Quinn finished third at the SCORE San Felipe 250, sixth at the SCORE Baja 500 and first at the SCORE Baja 400. A first place at the 57th SCORE Baja 1000 under certain conditions, could earn him a Class Championship. PRO MOTO UNLIMITED 323 Points - With a good lead in the SCORE Pro Moto Unlimited class, the H.E.R.O. team on the 11x Honda are poised to win the Class Championship. The team has two first place finishes at the SCORE San Felipe 250 and SCORE Baja 500, with a second place finish at the SCORE Baja 400. They will need a win or be on the podium at the 57th SCORE Baja 1000. PRO MOTO LIMITED 317 Points - Armando Ortiz has swept the SCORE Pro Moto Limited division on the 110X Honda. He and the team have had a perfect season so far, and can snatch-up the Class Championship with a win or a podium finish at the 57th SCORE Baja 1000. PRO MOTO 60 A tight race in the Pro Moto 60 Class is currently a tie. Harold Harris on the 616x bike and Mike Kay on the 628x bike need the win at the 57th SCORE Baja 1000. Any mistake or error in the race will cost them the win and the Class Championship. 239 Points - Rider of Record for the 616x team, Harold Harris started the season with a second place finish at the SCORE San Felipe 250. Then a DNF at the SCORE Baja 500 set the team back, but they took the win at the SCORE Baja 400. 239 Points - Mike Kay and the 628x team started the season with the class win at the SCORE San Felipe 250, and also DNF’d at the SCORE Baja 500. They came back with a second place finish at the SCORE Baja 400. SCORE TROPHY TRUCK SPEC Neck and neck for the SCORE Trophy Truck Spec Championship are Thor Herbst in the No. 219 Herbst Motorsports truck, and Justin Davis in the No. 285 Green Army truck. Both were tied going into the SCORE Baja 400, but Herbst got on the podium at the SCORE Baja 400 to gain a slight lead, while Davis had vehicle trouble, but finished the race. 384 Points - Thor Herbst finished first at the SCORE San Felipe 250, second at the SCORE Baja 500, and third in the SCORE Baja 400. A win at the SCORE Baja 1000 will cement a Class Championship. 366 Points - Justin Davis finished second at the SCORE San Felipe 250, first at the SCORE Baja 500 and 18th at the SCORE Baja 400. He needs to win at the SCORE Baja 1000 to earn the Class Championship. PRO UTV OPEN The 2024 season is Cayden MacCachren’s break-out year. The SCI Motorsports Factory Polaris team won the 2023 Championship with Brock Hegar at the lead, but this season saw MacCachren dominate every race. 363 Points - Well ahead of any other competitor, Cayden MacCachren is set up for a perfect season, and a Class Championship, if he can win the SCORE Pro UTV Open class at the SCORE Baja 1000. A win here would also be his fifth class win in a row, within the SCORE UTV division. PRO UTV STOCK 344 Points - Kaden Wells in the No. 3925 Can-Am Maverick is also set-up to have a perfect season if he wins at the SCORE Baja 1000. Wells has dominated the SCORE Pro UTV Stock class with a dominating points lead to take a Class Championship. CLASS 5 315 Points - Eli Yee, the 2023 Class 5 Champion is once again on course for another Class Championship season. With a perfect season so far, he is well ahead of other Class 5 competitors for the 2024 Class 5 Championship. CLASS 11 315 Points - Oliver Flemate and his team race in a variety of classes, but he has had the greatest success this season in Class 11. Winning every race this season, he and the No. 1100 car team are on their way to a perfect season and a second SCORE Class 11 Championship. SEE THE CURRENT POINTS STANDINGS OF ALL CLASSES FROM THIS LINK 57TH SCORE BAJA 1000 BIG CASH PAYOUTS AND NEW FACTORY SUPPORT BFGOODRICH TIRES $20K PAYOUT BFGoodrich Tires is offering a bonus $20K Payout to the Overall Winner of the 2024 BFGoodrich Tires 57th SCORE Baja 1000. The winner must be running on BFGoodrich Tires throughout the race. PRO MOTO UNLIMITED $20K PURSE SCORE Pro Moto Unlimited racers will have a chance at receiving part of a $20K purse at this year’s BFGoodrich Tires 57th SCORE Baja 1000. Compiled from various companies participating in the Pro Moto Baja Racing Facebook Group. The vendors include Anube which brings the Stella and SPICA Tracking and scoring systems, HQ Office, Taco Moto Co. a motorcycle accessory company, Baja Bound Mexican Auto Insurance, AHM Factory Services which provides tuning, customization, and rebuilding, and Coast Powder Coating. The payout will be distributed to first through fifth-place finishers. First place receives $10K, 2nd $5,000, 3rd $3,000 4th $1,500, and 5th $500. “The money for this purse was put up by these vendors who want to support Pro Moto Racing in SCORE,” said SCORE Moto Liaison Andy Kirker. “This is a grassroots effort done simply for the love of the sport, so it’s important to point out that it is not a contingency program, but a straight payout for the winner and finishers. FACTORY KAWASAKI SUPPORTS 745x PATRICIO CABRERA The current 2024 SCORE Points Leader in the SCORE Pro Moto Ironman Class, Patricio Cabrera on the 745x Kawasaki, picked up Factory Kawasaki support to race the 57th SCORE Baja 1000 and the 2025 SCORE World Desert Championship Season. The rider from Chile, is the youngest and only rider to finish DAKAR on a Kawasaki motorcycle. He is also a multi-time rally and motocross champion, who is determined to win the 2024 SCORE Pro Moto Ironman Championship. Helping Cabrera is team coordinator Beto Verber, who is a former multi-time SCORE Baja winner and was part of the Baja Kawasaki Team Green from 1990-1996. Carlos Valenzuela from Finetune Suspensions is also aiding Cabrera with bike prep and pre-running. KOVE MOTORCYCLES SUPPORTING SCORE BAJA RALLY RACERS KOVE Motorcycles is planning a show of support to the SCORE Pro Moto Rally Class. The Asian Motorcycle company is sending new EX450 Rally Motorcycles for an international team made up of American, Mexican, Canadian, and Chinese racers. MOTO RACER WOLTER-JAN VAN DIJK RETURNS TO BAJA Wolter-jan Van Dijk, the moto racer who became an overnight celebrity due to his unusual journey to race the 2023 SCORE Baja 1000, is returning to compete in the 57th SCORE Baja 1000. Last year, Van Dijk flew from Australia to Southern California, purchased a KTM 500, and drove it to Baja, camping along the way. The intent was to race the 2023 SCORE Baja 1000 in the Pro Moto Ironman Class. He finished in seventh place and is returning for the 57th SCORE Baja 1000. VIDEO: Van Dijk On His Journey To The 2023 SCORE BaJa 1000 THE COURSE The 57th SCORE Baja 1000 will once again be a loop race that will start and finish in Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico. The race will have its ceremonial start on the Boulevard Costero, in front of the Rivera del Pacifico Cultural Center. The timed runs begin at the Nelson Ranch, where competitors will race towards Ojos Negros, West to Ejido Uruapan, then South to Santo Tomas. The course continues south towards Ejido Erendira, Punta Colonet, Ejido Jaramillo, and San Quintin. At race mile 220, it heads South East towards El Canuto, and Guayaquil, and San Agustin. Just past Cavaviña, the course reaches the La Turquesa area, it heads East to race mile 400 and turns North up Highway 5 a Speed Zone all the way through to San Luis Gonzaga, the infamous Matomi wash, Llanos de San Martin, El Azufre wash, and Puertecitos old road. The Speed Zone ends after Puertecitos and heads North along the cost through Chanate wash, Morelia Junction, and Diablo dry lake. By race mile 560 the course is Wed of San Felipe and continues north to El Chinero, and up to La Ventana. At race mile 660, the course heads South West back towards San Matias. Another Speed Zone is located on Highway 3 up to Valle De La Trinadad, where the course continues North West towards Santa Catarina and back to Ojos Negros before heading back to Ensenada. There will be three physical, full-stop checkpoints. CP No. 1 will be at Ejido El Papalote (race mile 209.69), No. 2 at Rancho San Martín (rm 378.5), and No. 3 at San Matias (rm 731.85). There will also be a total of 494 Virtual Checkpoints (VCPs along the race course, and a total of 20 speed-controlled zones, covering 125.42 miles, with sections where competitors must maintain a speed of 37 miles per hour, and in other areas, the maximum speed will be 60 miles per hour. Download the official 57th SCORE Baja 1000 course map here: 2023 SCORE BAJA 1000 MEMORABLE MOMENTS Bryce Menzies’ Win And Race Highlights Kyle Quinn Class 1 Win And Race Highlights Gus Vildosola TT Legends Win And Race Highlights Cayden MacCachren’s Pro UTV Open Win And Race Highlights