On June 5th over 280 entries started at the 42nd annual Tecate SCORE Baja 500 with the expectations to fi nish the race and hopefully cross the fi nish line fi rst. The Matlock Racing team once again covered the rough and boulder strewn course in the fastest time for the 3rd year in a row with a time of 10:24:35 with an average speed of 42.15 mph.
Matlock Racing prides themselves on working hard to train and prepare so the #1A Matlock Racing Honda TRX700XX remains in the winner’s circle. This race was not only the 3rd time in a row they have recorded the fastest time at the Baja 500 but they also recorded the fastest Overall time for the 8th consecutive race in SCORE! Even with the mpressive amount of wins the team understands anything can happen in Baja and this race was no exception.
The Matlock Racing team headed south of the border to Ensenada a week before the start of the race to begin prerunning each section of the course. After a week of prerunning, each team member was prepared to take on the course at race speeds. The #1A Honda TRX700XX with Wayne Matlock aboard would start in the number 2 position just 30 seconds behind the #2A quad. On race day the early morning fog laid low over the town of Ensenada, this fog would hold in the silty dust turned up by the motorcycles that would start before the Pro quad class. Matlock took the start and made the pass on the #2A quad early in the race taking the lead. Through the dust in Ojos Negros Matlock held the lead with the #5A of Javier Robles and #6A of Josh Edwards in hot pursuit. A fueling issue at the rst pit held up Matlock which allowed the #5A and #6A quads to make the pass. During the pit, fuel was inadvertently dumped on Matlock and the quad ooding out the motor and killing the battery on the quad. Matlock would have to push start the quad and make multiple stops to pour water on his fuel covered skin loosing valuable time in the process. The #5A quad had gained 3 minutes before Matlock was able to hand the quad o to Josh Caster at race mile 74.
Caster was off in hot pursuit of the 2 quads, who now had a comfortable lead this early in the race. Before reaching check point #1 located at race mile 84, Caster was able to overtake the #6A quad and quickly move into the second place position. He would continue to chase the #5A quad over the rocky and dangerous summit without any communications with the chase crews due to the remote area of the course. Once reaching the dry lake bed of Laguna Salada he was back in contact with the chase crews who notified him that he was 4 minutes behind the lead quad. Caster turned up the pace for his last 25 miles into the rocky whoops of Borrego and was able to gain 2-1/2 minutes on the lead quad before handing it off once again to Matlock.
Matlock would take the quad in Borrego at race mile 196 just 1-1/2 minutes behind the lead quad. Once back on the quad he was able to chase down the #5A quad through the deep sandy whoops on his way up San Matias Pass and before making the turn towards the Famous Mike’s Sky Ranch he could see the dust of the lead quad. Once spotting the dust, Matlock pushed even harder and was ready to make the pass for the lead just as the next fuel stop would come into view. This would allow the lead quad to pull away as it headed towards the coast. Just down the road from the fuel stop Matlock would hand the quad off to Wes Miller who would take the quad to race mile 402 in Ojos Negros.
Miller knew the lead quad was just seconds ahead of him and knew if he pushed hard enough he could make the pass before reaching the silty and rocky hills along the coast. Before reaching the coast Miller was nipping at the #5A quad’s heels and made the pass for the lead. Once in the lead Miller stayed on the gas to gain as much of a lead as possible knowing anything can happen in Baja. During Caster’s last few miles in Borrego the communication radio bolted to the race quad broke off due to the rough course. Because of this Miller had no communication with his chase crews along his ride up the coast and was unsure of how far behind the next quad was. Miller would continue to push hard not knowing where any of the competition was and would hand the quad off to Matlock in Ojos Negros at race mile 402 with a 45 minute lead on the next quad. Matlock would make the final ride to the finish located back in Ensenada. He would take his time on the last few miles into town crossing the deep and muddy water crossings and also being very careful not to hit any of the booby traps built by the local spectators. Once crossing the finishline it was a full 50 minutes before the #5A team of Javier Robles would enter Ensenada after having some mechanical issues.
Not only did the #1A Matlock Racing Team finish a full 50 minutes ahead of the next quad but they also passed a total of 65 motorcycles that started ahead of them. Only 5 motorcycles were able to outrun the #1A Honda TRX700XX of Matlock Racing! This finish was good enough for the Class 25 Pro ATV win as well as the Overall ATV win.
The Matlock Racing Team would like to thank all of the chase crews and sponsors for their help. Without them these wins would not be possible and the team is very appreciative of all the support! Matlock Racing would like to thank all their sponsors: Vey’s Powersports, PRM-ATV.com, Rich Morel Racing Motors, Precision Concepts, Houser Racing, Maxxis, Elka, JCR Honda, Big Gun Exhaust, KZ Trailers, Fly Racing, Renthal, IMS-Roll, Pro Honda Oil and Chemicals, IMS, DWT,OMF, Tire Balls, Quadtech, Streamline, Precision Racing Products, Baja Designs, Scott Goggles, Motion Pro, UNI Filters, DID Chains, Division Four
For more information on Matlock Racing please visit – www.matlockracing-honda.com
Photos: John Lovell, Kristen Matlock, Seth Fargher
www.bombsquadbattalion.com