ENSENADA, Baja California, Mexico— After the first two rounds of the 2025 SCORE World Desert Championship, the battle for the annual title across various classes is at a unique moment, with leaders such as Alan Ampudia, Cameron Steele, Tyler Lynn, Brock Heger, Shane Esposito, Larry Serna, and Bhaskar Ramani, all showing a flawless pace this season.
Following the King Shocks 38th SCORE San Felipe 250 in April and the BFGoodrich Tires 57th SCORE Baja 500 in June, the magical and mysterious deserts, mountains, and beaches of Baja California have proven to be a significant test for the warriors who have crossed the finish line first.
the SCORE Trophy Truck, Alan Ampudia, 34, Ensenada, Mexico, holds 228 points, marking a historic start for a Mexican driver in the class created by Sal Fish in 1994, after claiming the top podium position at both the SCORE San Felipe 250 and the SCORE Baja 500, behind the wheel of the AWD No.1 Monster Energy/Papas and Beer Ford Raptor built by Mason Motorsports.
Ampudia is currently the defending champion in the “Desert Monsters” and is one of the favorites among Mexican fans in SCORE International races. He is also among the contenders for the 2025 Rod Hall SCORE Milestone Award, given to drivers who complete every mile of the SCORE season.
Former Dakar Rally motorcycle champion, Toby Price, 37, Australia, is the runner-up in the SCORE Trophy Truck with 209 points, alongside Paul Weel, 45, Australia, who have shared driving duties in the Team Australia No.46 Chevy-Silverado Mason AWD during the first two rounds of 2025.
Luke “The Luke” McMillin, 32, San Diego, Calif., continues to contribute to the Big Blue M Dynasty in SCORE, currently occupying third place in the SCORE Trophy Truck with 205 points. He is taking a short break while aiming to return to the winners’ circle in 2025 behind the wheel of his McMillin Racing No. 83 Chevy 1500 Mason AWD.
In the new SCORE Trophy Truck 2WD class, Cameron Steele, 58, San Clemente, California, and Dave Mason Junior, Valley Center, California, have only had reasons to celebrate in Baja California, driving their Desert Assasins No.16T Ford F-150 Geiser Bros after victories at the SCORE San Felipe 250 in San Felipe and the SCORE Baja 500 in Ensenada, accumulating a total of 235 points.
Tommy Phelen, 43, Clovis, California, and Ethan Ebert, 19, Marana, California, are second in this class with 211 points, highlighted by their runner-up finish at the BFGoodrich Tires 57th SCORE Baja 500, driving the Honda Racing No. 81T Honda Passport TSCO.
Gustavo Vildosola Sr, 72, Mexicali, Mexico and Ricky Johnson, 60, El Cajon, Calif., boast a streak of 14 consecutive wins within the SCORE Trophy Truck Legend class, leading the category with 212 points behind the wheel of their Vildosola Racing No. 1L Ford Raptor Mason AWD.
In this same class for drivers aged 50 and over, David Payne, 64, St. Louis, Missouri, and Larry Roeseler, 67, Boulevard, California, hold second place with 200 points driving their Payne Racing No. 61L Chevy Silverado Mason AWD, as they pursue their first checkered flag in the 2025 SCORE International World Desert Championship.
Justin Davis, 32, Chino Hills, Calif., leads the championship in the Trophy Truck Spec class with 251 points, thanks in part to his victory at the BFGoodrich Tires 57th SCORE Baja 500 behind the wheel of his Green Army Motorsports No. 285 TSCO-Chevy. He needs two more rounds to secure his future in the mysterious deserts of the Baja California peninsula.
Davis finished second at the King Shocks 38th SCORE San Felipe 250 and is also competing for the 2025 Rod Hall SCORE Milestone Award, presented annually to drivers who complete every mile of the season.
Ben Hagle, 35, Somis, Calif., holds second place in this class with 229 points, driving his Hagle No. 246 GFO-Chevy, following a fifth-place finish at the SCORE San Felipe 250 and a fourth place at the SCORE Baja 500.
In Class 1, Cody Reid, 33, Apple Valley, Calif., is leading with 207 points. He won the SCORE San Felipe 250 and took second place at the SCORE Baja 500 behind the wheel of his RPI Racing No. 168 Alumi Craft Chevy AWD.
Brad Wilson, 35, Long Beach, Calif., ranks second in Class 1 with 150 points, after winning the BFGoodrich Tires 57th SCORE Baja 500 driving his Wilson Motorsports No. 138 Jimco-Chevy.
The Polaris Factory Racing team leads the Pro UTV Open class thanks to Brock Heger, 25, El Centro, Calif., who has claimed the top podium position in the first two rounds of the year, accumulating 247 points behind the wheel of his No. 1896 SCI Motorsports Polaris Pro R through the magical terrain of Baja California.
Heger boasts three consecutive SCORE victories, including the recent SCORE Baja 1000, along with a spectacular win at the Dakar Rally in the Saudi Arabian dunes. He has become the figure to watch worldwide in the UTV category and is pursuing a back-to-back championship in the Pro UTV Open class.
Branden Sims, 39, Prescott Valley, Ariz., holds second place in the Pro UTV Open with 228 points, driving another Polaris RZR Pro R. Max Eddy Junior, Heger’s teammate on the Polaris Factory Racing team, is third with 218 points.
Kaden Wells, 26, Hurricane, Utah, claimed victory at the SCORE Baja 500 in June, which propelled him to the lead in the Pro UTV FI class. This marks his first win in the 2025 SCORE World Desert Championship after finishing second with his Risq Racing No. 2935 Can-Am Maverick R at the SCORE San Felipe 250.
Jorge Cano, 50, Culiacan, Mexico, is the runner-up in the Pro UTV FI class with 237 points, piloting his Monster Energy/Papas and Beer No. 2910 Can-Am Maverick R. Carlos Quezada, 51, Mexicali, Mexico, is third with 227 points behind the wheel of his No. 2928 Can-Am Maverick X3 XRS Max.
Slam Life Racing leads the Pro Moto Unlimited class with 210 points, driven by Tyler Lynn, 24, Mona, Utah, Ryan Surratt, 28, Perris, Calif., and Carter Klein, 20, Agua Dulce, Calif., who won the first two rounds of the 2025 SCORE World Desert Championship—the SCORE San Felipe 250 and the SCORE Baja 500—powered by the iconic Honda CRF450X.
Second place is held by Hero Racing, thanks to the skill and expertise of Arturo Salas Jr., 22, Chula Vista, Calif. (Tecate, Mexico), Shane Logan, 23, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., and Ciaran Naran, 24, Huntington Beach, Calif., aboard the No.7x Honda CRF450X. They have accumulated 198 points and are preparing for the 6th SCORE Baja 400 in Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico, aiming for their first win of the season.
In the Pro Moto 40 class, the leaders with 210 points are Shane Esposito, 50, Canyon Lake, Calif., Francisco Septien, 49, Ensenada, Mexico, Jim O’Neal, 79, Simi Valley, Calif., and Rene Magana, 44, Lake Forest, Calif., who have won the first two rounds of 2025 riding their No. 400x Honda CRF450X.
In other motorcycle classes, Larry Serna, 29, Chula Vista, Calif., leads the standings with 221 points, thanks to his victories at the SCORE San Felipe 250 and the SCORE Baja 500. Bhaskar Ramani, 50, Marietta, Ga. (India), leads the Pro Moto Limited class with 218 points aboard his No. 127x Honda CRF450X.
Source: Score International
Photo: GetSome Photo
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