Cantina Racing

For the last couple of years I have blogged with updates of the race's in our Baja Sur series that I was participating in but this year it was not to be as the bigger picture of work consumed my full attention. But this is not to say that I have not been involved rather choosing to race this seasons Score International events as a rider on the 404X Cantina Racing Team which seems to fit better with only 4 races in the season.

This year Score introduced the Baja 500 Sur which started in Cabo and finished in Loreto and for me this was quite exciting as well the Baja Sur race fans. Although the entry level was not as desired for this inaugural event the April race was set up and went as planned which is huge effort for Roger Norman and the whole Score Team. The race course was great as our southern state is much more natural and not so tore up as the typical northern routes as everybody that made the effort could concur. Cantina Racing based in SD was up for the task bringing down a couple of new bike's and we were set with a great team of Francisco (Pancho) Septien, Gerardo (Nino) Rojas, myself and our team owner rider of record Jano Montoya. The new KTM was set up with awesome suspension and I was off the start and hauling the mail with a good lead when a valve let go @ 140 miles #!& crap. Unfortunately the wise crack of a mechanic thought we needed a hopped up motor to win but as the saying goes you must first finish a race before you can win.

With high disappointment the team headed back to find a new mechanic and prepare to race again and that we will do as well Score has committed to this event for this next year's and I am sure with the pleasures of Baja Sur the event will grow exponentially for years to come.

The Baja 500 is a mainstay in Ensenada and will always be,  just a little confusing now there are 2 Baja 500's Sur in April and Norte in June. The Cantina team was prepped and ready with a All American KTM prepped bike that was bas ass and ready for the task at hand for this brutally rough 500 mile race. With confidence and desire the race went great with close competition but everybody rode awesome except me and the team took 1st place and a fantastic 3rd overall.

The next race in the Score schedule was the Imperial Valley 250 up in California which is a complete shit hole to race at it is small area that poor Californians are forced into because of land restrictions as their is not much love for offroad racing in the states from the government but this is what it is. For this race Jano brought Shane Edposito on board to ride with him as the rest of us stayed in Mexico and watched via the awesome live feed from Score International. With an incredible feet the Cantina Racing KTM took 1st place in our respected 40 pro class but was also able to take the 1st overall for a first time in the 40 pro class yes well experienced dudes rock!!

This now brings us up to date with the high expectations of the Baja 1000 around the corner up in Ensenada with all its glory and work awaiting. This year the race is a loop race starting and finishing in Ensenada which means a rough grueling event as the whoops of San Felipe and rocks of the northern Sierra's await everybody that takes on this challenge whether motorcycles quads or cars and trucks.

This is always great motivation for anybody participating to get your ass in shape and that's also my agenda with cross training riding mountain bike, swimming,  riding the moto of course and my special trail clearing workout with machete and saw. I promise to to give you a full blog of this years event with a anticipated positive result for the 404X Cantina Racing Team but you can also watch the live stream this Nov 20 and maybe catch a glimpse of us on the CBS network which is airing all the Score International races now.

Captain.