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Baja 500 2024: Price new king of BFGoodrich Tires SCORE Baja 500
Salas Jr won the overall motorcycles
Vildósola Sr triumphed for 10th straight race in SCORE TT Legend
After a week full of adventures and unique moments in the magical deserts of Baja California, Team Australia of Toby Price, 36, Australia, along with Paul Weel, 45, Australia, was officially named the overall winner of the cars in the BFGoodrich Tires 56th SCORE Baja 500.
In motorcycles, that honor went to the Hero Racing team of Arturo Salas Jr, 21, Tecate, Baja California, Carter Klein, 19, Agua Dulce, Calif., and Ciaran Naran, 23, Huntington Beach, Calif.
A 482.97-mile race course was the challenge for the 254 race teams taking part in the second round of 2024 SCORE World Desert World Championship, with 169 crossing the finish line set up on Ensenada's Boulevard Costero, for a 66.54 finisher percentage.
Price and Weel aboard their all-wheel drive No. 46 Chevrolet Silverado (built by Mason Motorsports), completed the challenge in an official time of 9 hours, 20 minutes and 22 seconds, being this the first absolute success for both of them in Score International and in the SCORE Trophy Truck, with which the former, 2-time winner of the Dakar Rally in motorcycles, added to his winning record in the sport.
"The race went really well for us. It was a nice, smooth day, which was really good. We were just trying to keep a good speed and keep the guys behind us. Basically, we just tried to keep the wheels on the truck and our BFGoodrich Tires were exceptional. We had a good, clean run, with no issues and no drama. We were fighting with Tavo (Vildosola Jr, No. 21) all day. Getting this win is one box ticked for us, its exceptional. It’s a big effort to come from Australia and compete with these guys, so I’m very proud of the team for the effort”.
Gustavo “Tavo” Vildosola Junior, 42, Mexicali, Baja California, was second in the SCORE Trophy Truck in the SCORE Baja 500, driving his Ford Raptor Vildósola Racing No.21 with a time of 9 hours, 27 minutes and 9 seconds, being this his second podium in a row this season.
Meanwhile, Salas Junior, Klein and Naran, took the checkered flag in the Pro Moto Unlimited class, stopping the clock in 10 hours, 36 minutes, and 2 seconds, crewing for this feat the motorcycle No. 11x Honda CRF450X, after the review of digital tracking devices by SCORE International officials, as part of the race protocols. It was the third consecutive overall motorcycle victory for the youthful Salas Jr in the SCORE Baja 500.
Salas Jr indicated that he ran out of gas on his Honda motorcycle in the Valle de la Trinidad, “I had that problem, but fortunately some fans gave me gas, they were on the hill, although I had to walk the bike about 2 or 3 miles, unfortunately that cost me to be overtaken by Justin (Morgan), in general, the bike was very good all day, so we did a great job in this race”.
Gustavo Vildósola Senior, 70, Mexicali, Baja California, and Ricky Johnson, 59, El Cajon, California, scored their 10th consecutive SCORE Trophy Truck Legends victory in a row with the fifth fastest overall time of 9 hours, 51 minutes and 48 seconds in their No. 1L Ford Raptor Mason.
“It was just a great, clean day” commented Vildosola Sr at the finish line. “Ricky (Johnson, co-driver) started the race and had absolutely no problems until he handed it to me. And I didn’t have any flats or mechanical issues either. It was just one of those days when everything runs how it’s supposed to. I’m very excited because my team and my family are here”.
In the Trophy Truck Spec class, Justin Davis, 31, Chino Hills, California, won the SCORE Baja 500 with an official time of 10 hours, 6 minutes and 8 seconds in his Green Army Team No. 285 TSCO-Chevy.
Source: Score International
Photo: Toby Price official FB page
Helder