SCORE Journal - The Official Publication of SCORE Off-Road Racing
Issue link: https://read.uberflip.com/i/1542108
A SHORT RIDE TO VICTORY Jason Alosi Puts His Injuries Behind Him To Win By Mike Vieira photos by getsomephoto jason Alosi recovered from the injuries he suffered before the SCORE Baja 400 to lead his 308X team to victory in the Pro Moto 30 class in the BF Goodrich 58th SCORE Baja 1000, adding to the three other wins in every SCORE event this season. Up until very close to the race, Alosi wasn’t really sure that he was going to be able to ride at all, and had made contingency plans for other riders to fill in if he couldn’t handle it. But in the end, he was ready. “Injury-wise, I was probably about 85 or 90 percent, but sitting on the couch for a couple of months didn’t do a whole lot for my stamina,” said Alosi. Nevertheless, he was able to ride the first 220 miles of the Baja 1000 for his team after getting used to being back on the bike for extended periods during his pre-running time. Although he says he didn’t have his best “stuff” and felt a bit fatigued, he was able to open more than a 15-minute lead in his class before handing over the Honda to Co-rider Shane Schorno. Shorno also had a clean ride, maintaining the lead for his 90-mile stretch. Co-rider Michael Lange then took over, but crashed around mile 340, damaging the bike. He was able to continue, but stopping for repairs to the GPS, Stella system, and riding at reduced speeds caused the team to lose the lead. A more extensive service at mile 460 put the bike back in proper order, and co-rider Mikey Fermoile then rode cleanly to mile 603. With another service stop and preparation for the falling darkness, the next co-rider, Tucker Hopkins, got on the Honda and was about ten minutes off the lead. He began making up time, and after about 120 miles of riding, was able to get back into first place. The original plan called for Alosi to take over again for the final thirty to forty miles of the race, but with the shortening of the course, the team decided to let Hopkins continue stretching the lead and wrap things up. The team finished about 30 minutes ahead of the second-place 338X team, but because of the penalties both teams had to deal with, they weren’t sure which team had actually taken the victory until Sunday morning. What next year will bring for Alosi and his teammates is still undecided. He says Shorno has joked that, “This was his fifth consecutive ‘final SCORE Baja 1000 race,’ so clearly it’s not easy to walk away from when you’re on top of the class. They’ve certainly earned the 300X plate with their undefeated season, and feel it would be a disservice not to run it. Yet, all the riders agreed they need to relax in the off-season before starting to plan what next year’s racing schedule might be. SJ