1. Congratulations on your Baja 1000 victory, and with that your factory Honda ride for 2006.   I’ll go ahead and jump right in and ask what was it like racing the granddaddy of them all with a team like Honda?

1. Have you raced the 1000 before?

This was my first Baja 1000. I will be back for 2006 with American Honda for another victory.

1. Which section of the race did you ride and about how many miles was it?

Ojos Negros to Indepencia = 60 miles

      San Felipe Honda Pit to Check #4 = 140 miles (100 miles of whoops)

1. Any interesting battles worth mentioning or for that matter any close calls or other events during the race?

-From Ojos Negros to Indepencia was extremely dusty and was able to pass 3A about 6 miles before myself handing the bike to Wayne at Indepencia.

-When I was handed the bike From Shane Hitt just outside San Felipe at the Honda pits, we were changing the air cleaner as a pre-caution. In the process, William Yokley came into the same pit to fuel. I took off behind him trailing about 1 minute back. I knew I had a 140 mile section in front of me, with about 100 consisting of large repetitive whoops. I relaxed and decided to ride my own race. For the first 30 miles, I was always in Williams dust and could see him when powering out of some of the corners. When I pulled into the next Honda pit, about 35 miles into my section, William was still being fueled. He was unable to get his bike started instantly, so I asked the Honda pit crew to push me back so I could pull out ahead of Yokley, as they did. I took off and continued to ride my own race, which consisted of pushing about 80-85%. Throughout my brutal and grueling whooped-out section, I kept waiting for Yokley to come pulling up beside me, but it never happened. I was determined mentally and in the best shape of my life physically. With the two added together, I was confident I could push 85% throughout my entire section, which I did. At the end of my section, I put a 22 minute lead on Yokley with Temecula Motosports. I was a bit tired, but still felt great. This was a huge accomplishment for me.   

1. How did you guys celebrate the win?

Saturday night, our team was invited by Bruce Ogilvie to an American Honda dinner to a awesome restaurant with some of the best food in Ensenada. After dinner, my teammate Wayne Matlock, his wife Christin, our Mechanic Rich from ALBA, and myself ventured over to Papa’s and Beer and consumed a few Tecates.

1. Was the long drive home easier to make, knowing you had won the Baja 1000?

1. You’ve been racing Best In The Desert for Alba Suzuki now for two years with teammate Wayne Matlock.   This combination has yielded significant returns with a Nevada 1000 victory and the Best In The Desert Championship last year.   Any hesitations with departing from a situation like that and why?

No, not a chance. Since I received the phone call and invite from Wayne a few years ago, we have become a successful team and will continue to do what we do, and that is win races. The best part is, manufacturers are starting to participate little by little each year. Being backed by American Honda for 2006 is going to be a great year.

1. Having mentioned all the success you’ve had this last couple of years why do think you’ve receive so little notoriety?

I don’t think I have received little notoriety. The organizations of SCORE and Best In The Desert that we participate in are a team effort. Wayne and I are both aware that are success is derived from both of us, not just one or the other. At times, Wayne’s name will be published first or sometimes his name will be published by itself. The majority of this has to due with the fact that he is the rider of record. Sometimes it is frustrating when writers will publish a larger article with Wayne being the winner or something involving the bike and not even mention my name, which really amazes me and makes me feel like I have been left out to dry. I guess I can only control what can be controlled.

1. You and I raced against each other for many years dating back to around 86’ or 87’ with the Arizona Desert Racing Association.   When did you actually first start racing?   What was it on, where was the race, and how and who got you started?

My first race was in Wickenburg,AZ back in 1983. I was riding a stock Honda 70. I placed first in the event and I was hooked. My father purchased my first of many bikes.

1. To date, how many championships have you won and what where they?

I have many championships in my younger days, unfortunately I don’t remember them all. But just recently, my teammate and I won the BITD Pro quad class for 2004.

1. Getting back to 2006.   What are your racing plans and who is going to be your stiffest competition?  

I believe there will be many very competitive teams in both SCORE and BITD. We have Greg Stuart, Mike Cafro and Danny Praether, Steve Beilman and Clark Evernham, Dana Creech and Wes Miller and many other teams as well. Desert racing is grueling and keep in mind anything can happen.

1. What advice would you like to give young Arizona ATV racers and are there any special thanks you’d like to shout out?

I would like to thank my wife for all her support, Wayne Matlock as a great teammate, my family, the Matlock family, Bruce Ogilvie (American Honda), Cory Hove and Rich (ALBA), Precision Concepts, Elka Shocks, Roll Design-IMS,Maxxis Tires, Tire Balls, Moose Gear, Precision Stabilizer, TAG, Honda Oils, and other sponsors I can’t remember off hand.