SCORE Journal - The Official Publication of SCORE Off-Road Racing
Issue link: https://read.uberflip.com/i/1545032
SCORE LEGENDARY MOTO RIDERS The Best of The Best By SCORE Staff Photos by Jack Wright/nMedia3.com Baja off-road racing began on two-wheels and was dominated by incredible riders, then followed by factory teams such as Honda, Kawasaki, Husqvarna, Yamaha and more. From the first Baja 1000 race in 1967 won by J.N Robers and Malcolm Smith, the bravest on two-wheels forged their legendary status with talent and speed. Each legendary rider inspired the next generation of riders to come, and to this day, champions can trace their mentorship to the earliest racing legends. While there are too many riders that have made Baja racing history, we gathered a fragment of those who have made the most impact and are considered as “legends” by the majority of SCORE fans. Although many of SCORE’s legendary riders started on two-wheels and later moved into one of the four-wheel categories, we wanted to showcase their two-wheel Overall Race Wins, and Season Class Championships to keep their two-wheel talents and tenacity pure. • DAVE EKINS, BUD EKINS, AND BILL ROBERSON JR. Dave Ekins and Bill Robertson Jr. were the first moto racers to do a timed run of 1000 miles of Baja in 1962, riding from Tijuana to La Paz as a publicity stunt. Bud Ekins joined his brother Dave two years later to make the second attempt with Cliff Coleman, and Eddie Mulder. ORMHOF Inductee • MALCOLM SMITH Before winning the Motorcycle Class at the first NORRA Mexican 1000 in 1967, Smith was already a moto champion. His talents set the bar high for moto racers who wanted to challenge Baja, and his legacy has endured ever since. SCORE Baja 1000 Wins: 2 SCORE Baja 500 Wins: 5 SCORE Season Class Championships: 2 ORMHOF Inductee • LARRY ROESELER Roeseler is considered the Greatest Of All Time and known as “Mr. Baja.” He started his career on two wheels in 1972 with Mitch Mayes and went on to win the most Baja 1000 and Baja 500 races than any other two-wheel racer. He later switched to four-wheels in his career and continues racing to this day. SCORE Baja 1000 Wins: 10 on Motorcycles SCORE Baja 500 Wins: 18 SCORE Season Class Championships: 2 ORMHOF Inductee • BRUCE OGILVIE Champion moto racer, and Honda USA Team Manager, Bruce Ogilvie came to Baja in 1975 and spawned dozens of championship racers. His winning techniques are still used today, influencing new generations of moto champions. SCORE Baja 1000 Wins: 3 SCORE Baja 500 Wins: 6 ORMHOF Inductee • SCOT HARDEN With 40-years of racing history, Scot Harden won his first SCORE Baja 500 Overall in 1978. His passion and leadership in moto racing have inspired many riders and, in his retirement, he developed the “Handstands At 100 MPH” events with Johnny Campbell, celebrating the history and memories of many moto legends. SCORE Baja 1000 Wins: 2 SCORE Baja 500 Wins: 4 ORMHOF Inductee • JACK JOHNSON Johnson competed in SCORE races riding Yamaha and Honda motorcycles. Later he rode the 1979 SCORE Baja 500 solo, winning one of the first Ironman Trophies. His passion for speed and winning didn’t end, as he later drove four-wheel Nissan trucks and won more races. SCORE Baja 1000 Wins: 4 SCORE Baja 500 Wins: 4 SCORE San Felipe 250 Wins: 1 SCORE Season Class Championships: 2 ORMHOF Inductee • JIM O’NEAL The rider with the most SCORE Season Class Championships on a motorcycle, Jim O’Neal, is the owner and founder of O’Neal USA motorcycle apparel. At age 79 he continues to race on a variety of age category teams, inspiring many other legendary and new generation riders around him. SCORE Baja 500 Wins: 25 SCORE San Felipe 250 Wins: 20 SCORE Season Class Championships: 26 ORMHOF Inductee • RICHARD JACKSON Starting in 1972 with his first Baja race, the Mexican International, Richard Jackson competed in SCORE for more than 40 years. A 15 -time SCORE Baja 500 winner, Jackson raced in many classes, including Pro Moto 60 late in his career. Over that time, he acquired 12 SCORE season class championships, even riding solo at one of the SCORE Baja 1000 races. SCORE Season Class Championships: 12 • CHRIS HAINES Mentoring many SCORE moto racers and past champions, Chris Haines was first an avid race bike builder for Suzuki and Honda, working with Bruce Ogilvie and his Factory Honda team. Haines raced in various SCORE Classes and teams throughout his career, including winning the SCORE Baja 2000 with Jack Johnson and Malcolm Smith. Educating and assisting racers was Haines’ forte and he became a true pioneer in off-road motorsports. SCORE Season Class Championships: 2 ORMHOF Inductee • JOHNNY CAMPBELL One of the first moto champions from the Ogilvie Honda team, Johnny Campbell began with the team in 1991 and won numerous SCORE races overall, including 11 SCORE Baja 1000’s and 11 Season Class Championships. After retiring, he mentored other young riders using both Ogilvie’s and his own methods of racing, creating the JCR Honda team. SCORE Baja 1000 Wins: 11 SCORE Baja 500 Wins: 6 SCORE San Felipe 250 Wins: 8 SCORE Season Class Championships: 11 ORMHOF Inductee • STEVE HENGEVELD Known for his fast night riding skills, Steve Hengeveld started racing Baja in 1993 with Kawasaki’s Team Green. He later teamed up with Johnny Campbell in 2000 on a Honda to win the SCORE Baja 1000 Overall. Later Hengeveld rode with Kurt Caselli in 2010 on a KTM, until he moved into a SCORE Trophy Truck. His fearless attitude earned him legendary status among moto racers. SCORE Baja 1000 Wins: 8 SCORE Baja 500 Wins: 8 SCORE San Felipe 250 Wins: 4 SCORE Season Class Championships: 8 • ROBBY BELL Robby Bell started riding at age 4 and would go on to be a champion racer out of the JCR Honda team. He won his first SCORE Baja 1000 in 2007. Known for his incredible top-speeds in the desert, Bell was seemingly unstoppable and went on to win many SCORE races until he retired in 2014. SCORE Baja 1000 Wins: 3 SCORE Baja 500 Wins: 4 SCORE San Felipe 250 Wins: 3 SCORE Season Class Championships: 4 ORMHOF Inductee • COLTON UDALL Mentored by Bruce Ogilvie at team Honda, and Johnny Campbell’s JCR Honda team, Colton Udall raced with the best and singlehandedly raised the bar another level in SCORE moto racing. He later formed his own team, Ox Motorsports in 2014, named after his championship riding friend Jeff Kargola’s passing in 2011. Udall went on to win multiple championships and later formed Champ ADV, offering racing lessons and advanced bike prep for racing. SCORE Baja 1000 Wins: 3 SCORE San Felipe 250 Wins: 5 SCORE Season Class Championships: 6 ORMHOF Inductee • KENDALL NORMAN If you reflect the company you keep, it’s no wonder Kendal Norman is in the class of legendary riders. Coming out of the JCR Honda team, Norman won multiple SCORE races, beginning with his first SCORE Baja 1000 win in 2004 with Steve Hengeveld and Johnny Campbell. Norman also rode to several wins with Robby Bell. Later he joined to be the third rider with Mark Samuels and Justin Morgan’s team. SCORE Baja 1000 Wins: 8 SCORE Baja 500 Wins: 5 SCORE San Felipe 250 Wins: 3 SCORE Season Class Championships: 5 • FRANCISCO SEPTIEN Winning championships in Pro Moto Ironman, Class 30 and Class 40, Francisco Septien makes racing in Baja look like a Sunday cruise. He has earned 11 SCORE Season Championships and has lately teamed up with Shane Esposito to dominate Class 40. SCORE Baja 500 Wins -9 SCORE Baja 400 Wins - 2 SCORE Season Class Championships: 11 • SHANE ESPOSITO When it comes to veteran racers, Shane Esposito has dominated the Pro Moto 40 class and continues to ride. He and friend Francisco Septien swept through Class 30 and Class 40, winning multiple championships and dominating the SCORE Baja 500 SCORE Baja 1000 Wins: 2 SCORE Baja 500 Wins: 8 SCORE San Felipe 250 Wins: 2 SCORE Baja 400 Wins: 2 SCORE Season Class Championships: 4 • MARK SAMUELS Samuels has won numerous races learning under Johnny Campbell, Colton Udall. Teaming up with Justin Morgan he created the SLR Honda team. Samuels currently mentors the 2025 Pro Moto Unlimited championship team and continues to inspire the next generation of riders with his skills and mentoring. SCORE Baja 1000 Wins: 7 SCORE Baja 500 Wins: 4 SCORE San Felipe 250 Wins: 4 SCORE Baja 400 Wins: 1 SCORE Season Class Championships: 3 • JUSTIN MORGAN Morgan- Justin Morgan has the most Pro Moto Unlimited wins in modern history. He began racing in Baja with teammate and friend Mark Samuels, winning back-to-back Season Class Championships and dominating the Unlimited class for several years. Morgan also learned from the JCR Honda team and Colton Udall’s Ox Motorsports. He is also mentoring the next generation of riders on the SLR racing team. SCORE Baja 1000 Wins: 7 SCORE Baja 500 Wins: 5 SCORE Baja San Felipe 250 Wins : 2 SCORE Baja 400 Win: 2 SCORE Season Class Championships: 4 ORMHOF Inductee INTERNATIONAL RACERS SCORE desert racing has also attracted two-wheel racers from all over the world. In the past five years alone, some of the top moto racers have attended and won races in various classes. • Juan Carlos Salvatierra - Bolivia SCORE Baja 1000 Wins: 1 SCORE Baja 500 Wins: 1 SCORE Baja 400 Wins: 3 SCORE San Felipe 250 Wins: 1 Season Class Championships: 4 • Francisco Arredondo - Guatemala SCORE Baja 1000 Wins: 1 SCORE Baja 500 Wins: 3