BAJA 1000 BUILD UP

The most highly anticipated Baja 1000 is upon us and there is no question that the Penhall/ KAWASAKI 1x bike of Robby Bell poses the most formidable challenge to Johnny Campbell Racing yet. For the first time since handing the throne over to Honda, TEAM Green finally has a real chance at taking Honda off the pedestal. This is the most highly anticipated race of the century.

In an effort to create the most effective offense, two time World Speedway Champion Bruce Penhall built a team of ex-HONDA champions to tackle the world’s oldest and longest point to point race. Steve Hengeveld and his trusted partner Robby Bell will join the Penhall brothers, Ryan and Connor and have teamed up with former HONDA tech wiz Bob Bell. The trio of Henge and the Bells will top off a star-studded line up of ex-HONDA champs, the likes of which pose a real threat to JCR’s outright domination of the BAJA Peninsula.

JCR’s initial response to the announcement of Penhall’s KAWI deal was a dignified one, acknowledging the legitimacy of Penhall’s campaign while paying respect to the HONDA ex-pats, Hengeveld and Bell.

The other major attraction to this race is the newly leveled playing field created by SCORE’s sudden and unforeseen enforcement of deviation and highway speed violations. All teams are expected to stay on the prescribed course as marked and follow highway speed limits in this upcoming event.

In the points hunt for an over class championship are Cameron Corfman, Colton Udall and Ivan Ramirez, all within 3 pts of the pro title going into this BAJA 1000. Bill Boyer leads class 21 with Carlos Casas and Ronnie Wilson vying for those class points.

Anna Cody is within reach of a second class 20 (250cc) title, but her team will have to beat both Castillo and Reyes handily.

In class 30, Mike Johnson from Texas has a near lock on the series championship if he can get place third or better and beat Jim O’Neal Jr.

The Bakersfield Boys (Campbell, Sweaney, and Cotton) have the best shot at a class points championship in class 40 with Scott Myers trailing by16 pts. All Campbell needs is a decent finish to wrap up the pts. for the season.

Class 50 has only two teams in contention, Jim O’Neal’s guys and Charlie Marshall.

IRONMEN

Here’s something new and exciting – Gabriel Williams (AKA the real 15X) has come up with an idea/ website devoted to solo Baja racers. Along with creating a prize pool for all solo racers, 20% of the total pool will be donated to a charity of the winning racers choice. (Hopefully a local Baja Organization — orphanage, shelter, relief supplies…etc..) Lifetime Baja racer Ron “SurfNRide” Wilson will make his first solo attempt this year with a fully supported Precision Concepts-Baja Designs ride backed also by ECC and Applied. Wilson, who’s been on the rosters of top teams for two decades, is looking to best Mouse McCoy’s 2003 solo effort as documented in Dust to Glory.

No question that this upcoming BAJA 1000 will be the best action in the history of the race. Stay tuned to DUST for comprehensive coverage and commentary.

Scott B.

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