39th Tecate SCORE BAJA 1000
Final round of six-race 2006 SCORE Desert Series
Nov. 15-18, 2006
Ensenada, Baja California, to La Paz, BC Sur, Mexico
1,047.8 miles
TOTAL STARTERS: 431 TOTAL FINISHERS: 234 (54.3 Percent)
PRO ATVs
CLASS 25 (over 251cc)-- (9 Starters, 7 Finishers)
1. Danny Prather, Ramona, Calif./Mike Cafro, Carlsbad, Calif./Levi Marana, Hemet, Calif./Marc Speath, Warner Springs, Calif., Honda TRX450R, 22:37:46 (46.30mph); No. 7a Danny Prather (1st Place)
That was an awesome course! Man, those rocks were gnarly! It was a good time. I just looked back and saw that I had a truck behind me. We just barely beat them...good times!! It was a perfect race. We changed a couple of rear tires to keep them fresh. All the guys did what they need, we came here to win.
Mike Cafro started and took it to Ojos; He gave it to Dana Skreech in Puertecitos; Mike Cafro got back on and took it to Bahia de Los Angeles; Levi Marana took it to San Ignacio; Mark Speath to north of Loreto; I took it Loreto down to Ciudad Insurgentes; Levi got back on to, rode to Santa Rita and I took it from Santa Rita home, back to the finish line.
I knew that the next team was coming. I kept looking back. He was getting close for about the last 30 miles. I could feel him. There's a fast stretches and I knew he'd be coming in soon. I'm surprised he didn't catch me earlier. But I'm glad he didn't, man. I hate getting passed by those guys. I've never won a Baja 1000 and this is by far the best one to win. Going down to La Paz is just awesome. I can't even explain it. Everybody had some issues, but we were spared this one and we pulled it off.
It feels good, man. It's a sweet win, a great win! I'm hoping we win some money!
2. Jeff Hancock, Salome, Ariz./Joshua Edwards/Kirk Schreier, Phoenix, Honda TRX450R, 24:27:16; No. 4a Jeff Hancock (2nd Place)
Co-driver, Larry Hancock: It was pretty fun. We had a tight battle for probably the first 500 or 600 miles and we broke an A-arm. Luckily we were close enough to a road we got an A-arm and a front shock in, put that back on but we lost about an hour or an hour and a half. You know, other than that, no major problems all day.
Jeff Hancock started. Kyle Pethens ran through San Felipe. Jeff got back on and ran down to Bahia de Los Angeles. I got on, then Kyle got on. I brought it in the last 100 miles. It was great fun.
The logistics is probably the most challenging part, just getting the trucks coming down. When you're on a bike, you just ride as fast as you can. That's all you know how to do. But, you know just getting the stuff where it needs to be. Just having a team that can get that stuff really helps.
3. Josh Frederick, Moapa, Nev./Tony Baker, El Cajon, Calif./Shane Strunk, Phoenix/Michael Swift, Can-Am Renegede, 24:55:54;
4. Alex Camanini, El Cajon, Calif./Carmen Cafro, Vista, Calif./Earl Thigpen, Murrieta, Calif./Allen Fox, Alpine, Calif./Scott Prather, Ramona, Calif., Honda SRP650, 25:04:37;
5. Wayne Matlock, El Cajon, Calif./Chad Prull, Laveen, Ariz./Keith Little, Russelville, Al./Wes Miller, Costa Mesa, Calif., Honda TRX450R, 26:48:04;
6. Josh Fink/Kevin Thompson/Jason Miller, Phoenix, Honda TRX450R, 30:29:29;
7. Carl Penny, Prescott Valley, Ariz./Tony Bowden, Glendale, Ariz./Branden Sims, Prescott Valley, Ariz., Yamaha Raptor, 31:41:29.
CLASS 24 (under 250cc)--1. Richie Brown, Dahlonega, Ga., Honda TRX450R, 39:22:45 (26.61mph). (1Starters, 1Finishers)
OVERALL SPORTSMAN ATV--David McCarroll, Danville, Ind./Eric Lemley, Rockport, W. Va./Brett Callen, Lakeside, Calif./Travis Dillon, Spring Valley, Calif., Honda TRX450R, 30:56:04 (33.87mph). (17 Starters, 7 Finishers)
SPT ATV
No. 54a Craig Christy (1st Place)
Co-driver, Jessica McCreary: It was great! It was awesome. I've been down here every single week for the last few months to train. We've been down each other's throats and now it paid off. For me, seeing the sunrise was really nice. That was the best part. I think it really helped coming over the hill and seeing all the girls light up, realizing that I'm a girl. I'm like `YEAH!'. That was cool. The most challenging part was having to go to the bathroom. I really hated stopping. Everything was challenging. They're always tough. Actually, they were really nice in this race. This is my first time coming in within the time limit! Each of our riders did about 250 miles.