Baja 1000: Matlock Racing Does it Again

November 23, 2009 by Seth Fargher

The Matlock Racing Honda team consisting of Wayne Matlock, Josh Caster, Harold Goodman and Wes Miller successfully defended their number 1A plate at this years Score Tecate Baja 1000. With almost an hour lead over 2nd place, Wayne Matlock cruised the teams Honda 700xx quad across the finish line in Ensenada Mexico, capturing the teams 2nd Baja 1000 victory and securing the overall Score Championship Series title.

To some, the win comes as no surprise as the team is comprised of some of the best desert racers in the world. Baja takes much more than skill and determination however as teams make preparations for months in advance. With the current state of the economy, merely pulling together a race quad proves to be a challenge, not to mention additional machines for training, pre-running the course and all the expenses surrounding the race itself. It is in the preparation for Baja that Matlocks racing team sets itself apart from the competition.

While many of the team members run the same sections of the course year after year, the team is meticulous about pre-running their sections to find the fastest possible line through the course. This year, the team arrived a week in advance of the race to allow ample time to set up the quad and for each member to run their specific setions. Additional planning is required to ensure chase vehicles are strategically placed throughout the course in the event of a breakdown. If all goes well, the riders won’t even stop at their pit. With Honda Racing handling the fuel, riders will only stop if they are in need of something or to change riders. The only stops made by this years champs were to swap tires.

The team was the 2nd quad off the line and wasted no time passing for first. Somewhere along the course a team from Mexico made a pass while Wayne was pitted for fuel. The real race was on however no one seems to know where they passed the Mexican team back as they never saw them again. I heard through the grape vine that they had a nasty crash which may have ended their race. The rest of the race was simply putting miles between them and the rest of the pack.

Congratulations to Wayne, Wes, Josh, Harold and the entire Matlock Racing Crew for successfully defending their title in one of the most grueling races our planet has to offer.