Continued from above...
Matlock was off into the night heading up into the mountains around the rocky, silty and dusty Mike’s Sky Ranch loop. The Baja locals had piled rocks and sandbags up at the three stream crossings and the water would be almost seat deep as Matlock worked his way through them trying not to get stuck in the middle and still stay dry in the process. He made his way around the winding and twisty roads taking a small slow speed spill in the silt before reaching Valle De Trinidad at race mile 495 and passing the quad off to Wes Miller for his section.
Miller would start his ride at Valle De Trinidad located at race mile 495 and work his way to the Pacific coast. Luckily after reaching the coast the normal heavy fog along the ocean was not present and he was able to keep a very fast pace in the dark up most of the coast. Miller raced his way through the new silty section of the course near the town of Erendira and the many VCPs (virtual check points) that SCORE located in this section. After a quick run up the coast along the Pacific Ocean, he followed the course back inland towards the town of Santo Tomas and then back into the hills and the rider change located near Ojos Negros. The inland section of the course was very rough and Miller worked his was through without any issues before he would hand the quad off to Matlock in Ojos Negros at race mile 636.
Matlock’s fifth and final ride of the day began at race mile 636 in Ojos Negros. The quad was still running great after Miller’s ride up the western coast section of the course and the team knew they now had over an hour lead on the competition thanks to all the riders continuing the fast pace and not making any mistakes. With this in mind, Matlock made his way back towards Ensenada and kept his eyes open for any of the famous booby-traps the Baja locals like to set up near the finish of the race course. Following the now extra silty course with missing course markers taken down by the locals, he made his way back down the same course he had come up earlier in the day at the beginning of the race. Racing his way up the last couple of corners on the slick asphalt streets he made his way across the finish line over an hour ahead of the next quad.
When the final Official results were posted by SCORE, the team had done exactly what they had been determined to do- They finished first Overall quad and were the only team in their class not to receive any penalties!
The Honda/JCR Pits performed flawlessly and this continued to add time to the teams lead throughout the race. Final race prep by the Matlock Racing crew proved to be the best as the only stops made were for fuel and rider changes. The motor prepped by Rich Morel sounded as good at the finish of the race as it did earlier that morning when it was started for the first time.
The Honda TRX700XX has proven to be a very dependable quad and has finished in the #1 spot at every SCORE Baja race it has ever been entered. Combined with a high horsepower reliable motor and Honda’s new independent rear suspension this quad is proving to be the ultimate racer!
With the final results posted the team claimed the Overall win at the 2009 Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 and the 2009 SCORE Class 25 Season Points Championship. This is the second consecutive year that Matlock Racing has won the Tecate SCORE Baja 1000!
Matlock Racing would like to thank all their sponsors
who have supported them in 2009
Honda, KZ Trailers, Vey’s Powersports, Precision Concepts, Rich Morel Racing Motors, JCR, Maxxis, Houser Racing, Elka, HMF Exhaust, Fly Racing, Pro Honda Oil and Chemicals, Baja Designs, Tire Balls, DWT, OMF, Renthal, Motion Pro, Streamline, IMS-Roll, IMS, TCX Boots, Quadtech, Scott Goggles, UNI Filters, DID Chains, Division Four