Here are my thoughts and predictions for the upcoming race, should be one for the record books. 2012 Baja 1000 Preview In one week, I leave to cover the 2012 Baja 1000. I can think of no time in recent history where one single Baja race had the potential for so much action as this forthcoming one. To be honest, there have not been many serious threats to the Honda string of victories in many years. The Kawasaki team was very close in 2009 and again last year, but there certainly have never been two serious challengers to Honda in the same year. There are so many factors and stories surrounding this race. Foremost would be the entries of three major teams, each with a nearly equal chance at the win. Riders from these teams have battled each other all year in Baja as well as other off road racing series. Most notably the AMA National Hare & Hound series where the championship was decided just last week, by the slimmest of margins, for KTM and Kurt Caselli. Coming into the 2012 SCORE Baja series Honda, Kawasaki and KTM all set out with full efforts to become the Baja champion. KTM drew first blood at the San Felipe 250. With a solid ride, the “A” team bike of Kurt Caselli and Ivan Ramirez rode to victory while the competition was collectively picking themselves up off the ground. Crashes by Robby Bell, Timmy Weigand and Quinn Cody put all the other teams out of contention for the win. The KTM squad made it look so easy, one might have expected them to romp through the rest of the season. At the second race, the Baja 500, KTM came to Ensenada with two crippled teams. Injuries to Kurt Caselli, Quinn Cody and Homero Diaz saw them scrambling to find enough riders to fill the ranks. An early crash by Ivan Ramirez would end the chance for a second KTM win. He and Mike Brown rode a valiant race, but were back far enough to be out of contention. Focus shifted to the Honda and Kawasaki teams. Battling back and forth all day, no one standing at the finish line knew which bike would arrive first. Even then, it would fall to the adjusted time to determine the race winner. The green Kawasaki cruised in with plenty of time to spare to become the second winner of the year. A few minutes behind, the Honda would arrive. JCR rider Colton Udall had crashed early in the day and was unable to ride the final section. This forced Timmy Weigand into a marathon to bring the bike home. He had not practiced the finish section and quickly lost time and the potential win to Robby Bell. This win was a huge boost to the THR/Monster Kawasaki team. The flip side was that the Honda loss represented a rare occurrence; the JCR team actually lost the race due to poor race strategy. With Udall unable to finish, they had no other rider prepared to ride the final section. Even with adversity, all three teams have scored points in the first two events. With the Baja 1000 paying double points, the battle comes down to one final race win of the year. Winner take all, the team that wins the Baja 1000 will also win the SCORE championship. Let us take a quick look at the status of each squad. JCR Honda In many ways, this is not the same Honda team that reigned in Baja for so many years. While the competition from other teams increases, Honda downsizes to a one-bike operation. They retain many of the strengths that brought so many race wins, but without the services of long time leader Kendall Norman. Their three-man team consists of Colton Udall, Timmy Weigand and David Kamo. All are experienced riders and have speed, but the big wins have eluded them this season. Their CRF450x has the most development time and age. It is dependable, but also the heaviest and slowest of the group. JCR has their own long established pit service program that should give them an edge in that category. THR/Monster Kawasaki Collectively, the most seasoned group of riders are on the Kawasaki; Robby Bell, David Pearson, Destry Abbott and Steve Hengeveld. They share more Baja race wins than any other team’s riders. These riders have spent many race miles together over the years and should work well together. The Bob Bell tuned KX450 is light and fast, but gives up horsepower to the KTM and overall top speed (gearing) to both rivals. THR will use Baja Pits for fueling, supplemented with their own crew members at each location. FMF/Bonanza Plumbing/Factory KTM This year KTM came to Baja with the full factory rally motor package for their 450sxf. As of yet, I have heard of no failures from this motor. Depending on who you listen to, it has 8-10 more horsepower than any of the competition. This is the closest thing to a true factory bike in Baja. In theory, the days of broken KTM’s in Baja should be over. The team has decided to use an innovative light set up from Baja Designs, combining LED and HID technology. Even with so much new light development over the past few years, teams like Honda have chosen to stay with the proven dual 8” halogen lighting. The KTM set up is far more compact and aerodynamic, although it may be slightly heavier than the halogen package. For riders, KTM has the newly crowned AMA Hare & Hound champion Kurt Caselli. Backing him up is San Felipe partner Ivan Ramirez. Also on the bike for this race will be Quinn Cody and Mike Brown. Quinn is just returning from a wrist injury, he has not raced all season. Mike Brown has had an outstanding year in a number of off road disciplines, but is currently suffering from a stomach ailment that sidelined him at last week’s Endurocross event. It is a very talented group of riders, but they have little time together as a team. They are much more a collection of individuals. For service, KTM will be relying on their own assortment of team mechanics, most with little Baja experience. Overall, the KTM team has plenty of strong elements, but they are still newbie’s in the Baja realm. With so many different factors in the long peninsula race, that it will be interesting to see if they can all come together at just the right time to get the win. So who will win? Baja racing is the kind of crucible that brings many different elements together. It is also a magnifying glass that exaggerates even the slightest of flaws. The last trip to La Paz was in 2010. The two rider Honda team of Kendall Norman and Quinn Cody rode a perfect race. Racing with only two riders might seem risky, but part of the conventional wisdom is that the fewer cooks in the pot, the better. When looking at all the variables, it is very difficult to view any of the teams with a clear advantage. KTM may have the fastest bike and fastest group of riders, but they are untested in this arena. Honda has the track record, but the riders are still looking for some of those big wins. If a consistent pace wins the race, then it will be the JCR boys who get there first. I see them as the least likely to have any big problems. Kawasaki may just have the right combination of both elements. They have speed, but they also have experience. They are a little bit of the “old dog” team, but they come to the line with a very strong desire to put one more race win in the books. As for choosing a winner, it is almost a bit random. It is impossible to guess how the race will develop. Will the race be won on speed, strategy, experience or just plain luck? Do you not make your own luck? Who knows, but someone has to win and someone has to make a guess as to whom that will be, so I pick the THR/Monster Kawasaki for the 2012 Baja 1000 win.
will they be telivising the baja on any channels that anyone knows of?? blasted ktm's!! lol no husky teams takin a stab at it?
I want Caselli to win because he is a nice guy, but its hard to bet against big red. Is Cody riding a KTM also?
2 Big reasons Big Red has been winning #1 Kendal Norman #2 No other big team shows up 2012 No Kendal and a few other big teams to root for Dustry Abbott is a great guy on green Kurt Casillie is also a nce guy nate to pick I just hope it is not red who wins
Come on THR! Too bad there isn't a Husky team, maybe a couple of us should take a WB165 down for next year!
Rsenal Racing (not in the Pro class). But its there one the "old" model TXC510s (I assume its a C/B shafted TXC and a 510) http://www.rsenalracing.com/
I have been lucky enought to race both the 500 and 1000 about 15 times even the 2,000 in the year 2000 Even won it a few times always in cars.Pre run on bikes The cars were owned by Ford, Iszui,Kia and Jeep or a few independent teams.The COST and time to pre run and race the Baja is crazy.Every few years it goes all the way down to La Paz or to the tip.Where you are 1,200 miles from the USA and a 2 day drive just to get back to San Diego How I ever found the time I still do not understand I still get offers to go but never seem to have the time. Some day I will do it again the sound of a 165 pinned across the dry lake bed might just do it Keep the dream alive and keep me posted John
I hope Chuck and team have agood run this year. If anyone wants to donate their 165 for next years 1000, I'll volunteer for a leg.
You guys are nuts!! and how the heck did my name get in that mix?? If I ever do a "real" baja race it will be in a cage with 4 wheels. I've been racing and riding in Baja for years but not in the "real" baja (SF250, B500,B1K), only closed course enduros/HS and XC races (LAMC,Tractor,BORCS) and a bunch of fun and hardcore rides thrown in. John how about that CR165 rippin the Los Ancianos single track?????
Oh by the way most importantly where is LR in this race? PS past history the Husqvarna Marque has won the B1K 11 times.
Come on Robert, I'll sacrifice my bike if you get two top ends for next years 1000. I aint scared.....I'll load up my trailer behind my corolla and be there in time to preride next Nov! Hahaha
During my last deployment for OIF I decided I wanted to do it before I turned 50. Grew up vacationing in Baja, Dad & I rode in Baja and I even married a girl from Baja. Having said all of that, I'll be turing 45 over T-Giving week (and will be in Baja on the sea of Cortez for that as well) so I'm kind of running out of time. Keep the dream alive? It's probably just that - a dream.
if you know of anyone that needs a driver for a offroad truck, let me know id love to give it a shot!!
T-Coastie, If you go to enduro360, Chilly's site he said he accidently missed a 0 while googling the baja1000 and the aermacchi/harley baja 100 came up in an ironic old school bike display, so he is just going with the old school theme!! Good stuff! I just cant remember if it was that bike or a smaller cc A-Harley that one of my friends had back in the early 70s.
I recall an old dirt rag did a feature on what different bike company letters meant. Harley Davidson=HD=High Density. As in reference to the brain matter of anyone considering riding one in an offroad race
