Rider: Cameron Steele aka "PABalicious"

San Clemente, CA resident Cameron Steele is a 25-year veteran of Off Road racing and is a Baja 1000 winner that has been driving and riding in Baja since 1985. Cameron is the only racer to have ever competed and finish in three classes of race vehicles at one Baja race. He is a top recognized competitor in the premiere desert racing class for unlimited trucks known as Trophy Truck and also competes in open wheel buggies as well as the Open Pro Bike class.

To some Cameron is better known as a TV commentator who has worked on programming from the Indy 500, Running of the Bulls and on Super Bowl Sunday. Cameron has worked for the networks of ABC, ESPN, CBS, FOX, MTV, Discovery and Fuel TV consistently for 10 years on events and shows ranging from the X Games, Supercross, the Indy Racing League, CORR and Champ Car as well as much specialty programming. He is a familiar face at major events around the world of action sports and has worked shows like New Years No Limits and the Caesars Palace Fountain Jump, which are major ESPN live projects.

After watching others TV production and living in the world of action sports Cameron has decided to make his mark with an adventure event of his own. Cameron has ridden professionally in Supercross, Freestyle Motocross and Off Road racing as well as riding waves for a living when younger and has learned much of the event world while working on every part of them. He was the creator of the Moto Survival Tour that was aired over 5 days eliminating riders via the web in 2003 and has now led groups of Baja virgins from the border to Cabo San Lucas in the famed “Rip to the Tip” motorcycle ride.

In 2009, Cameron logged over 11,210 off road miles on his motorcycle in Baja.

Rider: Jeff Kargola aka "OX" - “Your life is what you make it!”

OX is not just a large moto rider from the surf ghetto of San Clemente, he is an X-Games medalist and an overall Baja winner for factory Hondas effort with Johnny Campbell Racing.

His real name is Jeff and he has lived through some hard knocks to keep coming back on top. Jeff's father passed away before he was old enough to drive and his mother lost her battle with cancer when Jeff was 25. He shares this similar tragedy with Rip co-founder Cameron Steele who also lost his Mom to cancer early in life. It is not totally clear which is more true but they are either like brothers or father and son.

OX has done more in 25 years than most will do in multiple lifetimes and his sponsor supports his on the edge lifestyle. Not only does OX compete at the top of the freestyle and Baja world but he is an accomplished tow in surfer and is not afraid to challenge much. For this Rip to the Tip he had to miss a major event that his sponsor Boost Mobile is hosting at Talladega with the NASCAR event there but that just shows how committed he is to earning his first “Full Pull”.

Percentage of chance OX will earn the “Full Pull” = 90%. This is OX’s second Rip, in 2009 he left as part of the mutiny 6 and rode the highway after growing tired of 100 degree silt bed navigating on the 2nd to last day.

Rider: Casey Currie

With a family that has been in business for over 50 years building high performance rear end's for most off road and NASCAR style racing, Casey has grown up behind the wheel. Growing up in Anaheim Hills, California he has been drawn to anything with a motor. By the age of 5 he was racing motorcycles and by the age of 16 he jumped behind the wheel of his first race truck. In 2003 Casey won the MDR series in his JeepSpeed and many other races along the way. In 2004 Casey switched to a Pro Truck and Class 1 taking 2nd in Pro Truck in the Baja 1000 and 3rd in the Class 1 Car at the Baja 500. In 2005, Currie moved to SuperMoto and quickly proved himself, winning many races and ranking himself 5th Overall in the AMA Lites Class and 1st in team points his rookie year.

A change in pace and the new owners of CORR made interest in Currie making the move. Working with Kyle LeDuc, Casey became good friends with Factory Nissan and Art Schmitt setting up a program to race the 2006 season under the Factory Nissan Awning. As the 2006 season went on Casey was in development of a new tire and made much progress as a new driver, finishing on the podium in his Rookie Season.

In 2007 Currie made a move to become the youngest team owner in CORR. Being 22 and owning his own team put a huge responsibility on his shoulders. The risk was worth the reward as he finished 2nd Overall in Points and was constantly on the podium. He ended the season with 7 Podiums and 11 top 4 finishes.

Currie competed in the biggest Rock Racing event of the year in 2008 in Johnson Valley and finished 2nd overall in a newly build Shannon Campbell Pro Mod Rock Crawler.

In 2008, Currie created his own Pro Lite and is now building, prepping and manufacturing everything in house at Currie Racing. With all the bugs worked out of the new truck Currie finished the season off with 1 win and 4 Podium finishes. Even at home Currie does not slow down, spending time riding his dirt bikes, jet skis, UTVs, and mountain bikes. Racing and winning is Casey Curries focus and that is his plan for the now and the future.

Rider: Jeff Laubscher aka "Lobster"

"Lobster” is actually Jeff Laubscher who claims the SJC as home, that’s San Juan Capistrano, yes where the Swallows come home, weird. Lobby is know far and wide as the builder that perfected the freestyle motocross ramp and was the ramp builder for X-Games and all other events until he just got tired of it. In 2008 Lobby took his first Rip ride and in 2009 he won two of the awards, Best Trail Partner and Rock Solid Performance. Lobster has 3 kids and his 16 year old daughter is paying him back for him being a hell raiser as a youngster.

Lobster is the main sweep rider and builds all the logistics plans with the DA for the Rip. He is an expert in Baja and has ridden with many of the top experts and has never failed. Johnny Campbell and Tim Morton hail Lobby as the man on the trail and PAB refuses to go anywhere without his wingman, in the last year the due hosted the Rip to the Tip, the Baja Beach Bash and Hell Ride and logged over 10,000 Baja miles.

Percentage of chance lobby will earn the “Full Pull” - 100% he is 2 for 2 so far

Rider: Bruce Hendel aka "El Gato"

I am the Western Regional Manager for VP Racing Fuels and have been with the company for 17 years. I race a little motocross and I have done many Best in the Desert events in the past. I have been on the last three Rip to the Tip rides and earned the coveted "Full Pull" on all three. I have acquired the nick name El Gato, thanks to Cameron, but I am also known as ODB.... usually the oldest rider in the group. Don't confuse old with slow! I really enjoy the camaraderie on the Rip and enjoy sharing the adventure of this ride with our rip brothers.

Rider: Larry Badgwell aka "Badger"

Larry Badgwell is a Bad Ass but will not tell you this, you just need to know it. The “Badger” is the co-founder of the Rip to the Tip and has ridden all of the 4 previous trips with 3 Full Pulls to his credit. Hailing from California, Larry has found a great love and sanctuary in the Baja Peninsula.

Larry may not be the highest pro level rider on the trip but he has been a Baja 1000 racer multiple times and outside of the Rip he led his team to a finish at the 2007 Baja 1000 that ended in Cabo. Larry fears nothing and will take on anything and is clutch when the chips are down as he has a very keen decision making process.

On the inaugural Rip Larry’s brother Lance went head on at 50mph with a car on the highway. Larry and Cameron were in full view of the crash that occurred when Lance pulled out to pass a slower semi. Larry responded to his brothers needs and with his Rip brothers and the help of Mandy at Corporate Helicopter they got Lance Life Flighted out to the US. How tough is Larry and how determined is he to earn the “Full Pull”? As his brother left in a plane he got on his bike and rode through the night to get to that evenings destination and earned his first “Full Pull”

Percentage of chance Larry will earn the “Full Pull” - 95% - Larry has “Full Pulled” 3 of 4 Rips, a day one crash on Rip 4 2009 took him out of the running early.

Rider: John Marking aka "Terminator"
As the head of FOX RACING SHOX offroad division, John Marking is exactly the kind of racer the other guys have to keep an eye on. For over 25 years, John Marking has demonstrated a meticulous and calculated approach to racing, a trait that has served him well in years of desert competition that culminated in winning a SCORE Class 1 championship in 2004. He is an endurance “athlete” and commented that perhaps no one on the Rip to the Tip should be allowed food or water other than what they have on their motorcycle and we’ll see who survives.

Rider: Tom Geivis aka "Turbo Tom"
Known among the world of off road desert racers as "Turbo Tom" crossed the finish line in the first stage of the 2009 DAKAR in 44th position in the elite DAKAR T-4 Truck Class. Geviss piloted the #524 Monster Energy MAN race truck for Robby Gordon Motorsports for the past two DAKAR races and has long been considered one of the top co-drivers of all time in off road desert racing. In 2004, Turbo Tom co-drove with FOX RACING SHOX racer and executive, John Marking, claiming the elite SCORE Class 1 Championship. Geviss was the co-driver for Larry Ragland during their domination in the SCORE Trophy Truck division in the 1990’s and also rode with NASCAR 4-Time Champion, Jimmy Johnson.

Rider: Mathis Riiber

Born and raised in Denmark, Mathis currently lives in Las Vegas, Nevada with his wife Danielle and 2 kids, Theis and Diesel. "I just want to thank everyone for making this trip a reality. A special thank you to my wife for being a true supporter. Thanks to Nordfab Ducting and Personalizedpacifiers.com. The photo shows a dirt-biker rider on top of the cake with a broken foot...Thanks to Bill for that experience...only broken 5 places...With 8500 Rpm's" - Mathis

Rider: Barb-Wire Walker

"Barb Wire" has been riding and racing for 35 plus years. He was a Kawasaki Team Green rider in the early 80’s and over the past four years has raced in classes 21 and 22 in the Baja 250, 500 and 1000’s finishing as high as second. Bob is President of Connexions Sports and Entertainment who represents the top racers in motorsports including Brian Deegan, Clint Bowyer, Josh Grant and Trey Canard.

Rider: Brian Busby aka "Scrambler"

Brian Busby is the General Manager of Amber Racing Services, Off Road Racing's #1 race fuel source and only distributor of F&L and VP Racing Fuels. He is a record holding Drag Boat racer with numerous championships. He also has been a sought after navigator in off road race vehicles, everything from Class 12 cars to Trophy Trucks. Within the Desert Assassins he's known as "Scrambler" for his epic dismounts from his dirtbike ... some call them gnarly crashes, he likes to refer to them as "stunts". Brian is a SoCal Native and has ben venturing into Baja since the 1980's.

Rider: Chris Dornsife aka "Pup"

Chris "Pup" Dornsife is a Senior Software Architect for PayPal, Inc. Pup is also co-founder of the search and rescue not-for-profit "Baja SAR". Pup loves to ride dirt bikes and loves Baja. Pup grew up in Lake Tahoe, CA doing just about every extreme sport and backcountry adventure he could find. Pup is part animal, part machine, part donkey.

Rider: Norm Tunburg

Norm Tunburg resides in New England and is a distributor of VP Racing Fuels back East. He's been riding and racing bothe bikes and quads at Netra Hare Scrambles Gncc Moto X most of his life.

"I'm excited to end up riding with a bunch of hard core crazy great bunch of guys like myself from the west coast who like to haul ass. My 14-year old son Troy and mother Leslie will be meeting us in Cabo at the end of this crazy adventure."

Rider: Bobby PeCoy

Bobby PeCoy is what we call a crowd pleaser. His fierce competitive streak and hardcore work ethic make him a fan favorite, and lately he’s been making podium finishes galore. With a 1st place wire-to-wire win in the 10th round at Surprise, Arizona, PeCoy has proven to be a serious driver to contend with. PeCoy proudly represents Maxxis Tires, Makita Industrial Power Tools, and K&N Filters. And when he’s not in the driver’s seat himself, he’s busy passing his love for racing on to his two kids, Travis and Chelsea. We’re all keeping an eye out for this up and comer!

Rider: Chuck Cheek aka "Buttercup"
There’s the Orange County Housewives TV Show on Bravo TV and then there’s the OC Boys Show on RDC and Chuck Cheek is the main star on RDC with his friend P-Diddy aka Pat Dailey. As a resident of the big OC, Chuck is a champion short course open wheel racer after captivating the world with his miraculous effort in the 2009 Lucas Oil Off Road Series. He is an successful businessman, however this is his first ever trip to Baja in the dirt. He described his first trip to the Baja Peninsula as a trip to Puerto Nuevo 40 miles south of San Diego on the Pacific Coast. It is a tourist destination near Rosarito Beach. The 2010 Rip to the Tip will test the mettle of this off road racing champion and will determine if he has what it takes to overcome Baja.

Rider: Brian Beaman

My name is Brian Beaman I am 36 years old, I teach ceramics and Art History at El Modena High School in Orange, California. I am married to my lovely, understanding and very patient wife Alissa. We have 3 children, the twins, Sean and Lindsey that are 7 and our youngest Katelyn who is 4.I am a Rip rookie and have no racing experience. I have been riding for over 30 years. I am excited for the ride and will accept nothing less than a Full Pull !!!

Rider: Dave Beaman aka "Beaman"

I am 39 years old and live in Laguna Hills, California.I am married to my wife Cindy and we have a son, Nathan and Daughter, Hannah.

I was born and raised in Southern California and enjoy hanging out with my family, riding dirt bikes, mountain biking, skateboarding and surfing. I've been riding since the age of 5. I grew up riding dirt bikes at places like, Ocotillo Wells, Ballenger Canyon, Gorman, De Anza, Gilman Springs, Apple Valley, and Reche Canyon. I will be riding a 2009 Yamaha WR450 F on the Rip.

Rider: Henk Wiessner

I moved to Holland as a kid and grew up there. I met my wife Wendy while on vacation here in the States and currently reside in Lake Forest, California. I've been around bikes most of my life, both street and dirt , but the majority of the riding happens now in the Ocotillo desert. My Ambition has always been to Ride Baja and I can not believe we are leaving April 22 to do so!! This is going to be an epic trip to say the least.

Rip Bike: 09 Yamaha WR 450

Rider: Troy Harper aka "Meatball"

Troy Harper is a menace at times but also one of the most genuine guys in the group. Troy has a tendency to sip a few sodas and get a little crazy but he would do anything for his boys. In 2009 Troy earned his jacket with the DA and is known as "meatball" for more than one reason. He is a bit of a knucklehead at times for sure but he is very proud of his extremely enlarged testicle, just ask him he'll show you! On the bike Troy has a lot of skill but lacks confidence. Yes he could ride every mile but history shows he may take the easy way out to the ice chest late in the day. Percentage of chance he will earn a "Full Pull" - 30% - this is Troy's first Rip.

Rider: Bill Witt

Bill Witt has been off road racing for the past 20 years in classes 1600, 10 and Unlimited 1. He has raced the famed Mint 400, Baja 500, San Felipe 250, Baja 1000 and many other local SNORE races. Bill has raced and been riding motorcycles since age 5 years old. Witt currently resides in Henderson, Nevada, self employed for the past 20 years at B. Witt Concrete Cutting inc.He is married to Evelyn Witt, the two have 2 boys ages 6-8 Mason and Carson. Thanks to wife and family for there support for this trip! Riding 2009 Crf 450X on this trip.

Rider: Larry Job

Facing the toughest of challenges, Larry is known for his intense tenacity while on the race track/course. Recognized by his peers as an excellent athlete, he is also a veteran open wheel desert racer who has raced with some of the best in the business as their second drivers. He is a fierce competitor who has raced in short course many times in his career.

Larry was born in San Diego, California, but now resides in Las Vegas where he is a business owner. Larry Job is one of the anchors in the Las Vegas based “Big Red Machine,” known as Menzies Motorsports. His most memorable race is the SCORE Riverside World Championships and has been racing against Cameron Steele for his entire career.

Larry has been racing for over 20 years. As an accomplished desert motorcycle rider, he often blazes the trails all around the Vegas deserts. Racing in Baja for the last two decades affords Larry the experience that many others do not have on this ride.

Rider: Mark Bradford

Mark Bradford, 32 out of Los Angeles, California, is a Skatepark Builder with Spohn Ranch Inc. He builds parks and creates events for skate, bmx and Moto X. He is the original builder of the X Games (back when they were the Extreme Games) and races in the Open Pro MC class in the SCORE Desert Racing Series.

Bradford has been riding since he was 15, "I lied to my parents and bought my first dirt bike, told them it was my friends." He enjoy's spending time with his buddies on bikes, especially south of the border.

Future goals: complete the Baja 1000 Solo. Have a healthy 2010. (had surgery on both shoulders in 2009, one as a result of a Rip crash on Day 6)

Rider: Ryan Divel

Ryan Divel clearly is going to be the freshest fish in the bunch. With 2 days of Baja riding experience, (just last week), and no equipment to his name, this flounder is going to be on the top of the list as “most likely to quit and ride in the truck” Divel is your typical surf turkey that really has no idea what he is in for, and is relying heavily on his teamrider OX to carry his weight.. And that’s quite a bit of weight to carry! The desk job running sales AND marketing over at have made him weak, so follow his spot check track anxiously awaiting seeing the “HELP!” button get pushed. “I heard we were heading to Cabo to surf, so I really don’t care how I get down there.” said Divel.

Divel seems on a mission, (possible suicide mission), but he’s going to be responsible for snapping scenic photos & video of the landscapes, trails and anyone that sneaks off to drop a deuce. Look for the uploaded images with his signature commentary and twisted view on things.

Rider/Medic: Jesse Beck

Hailing from San Juan Capistrano, same home town as Rip brother Jeff Laubscher, Jesse started his Baja excursions as a baby and has never stopped going to what could be considered his first home. The Beck family does have a home in San Juanico, better known to Gringo surfers as Scorpion Bay, and he actually met his Wife Sarah there in the water surfing the legendary point.

Jesse has raced mountain bikes professionally and is a master of all things with pedals and he has ridden on Mexico Highway 1 all the way to Cabo camping along the way. Jesse has also ridden every nook and cranny of Baja on a dirt bike and says “you can never get lost because we are already lost in Baja.” He is the only person that we know that has hiked the mountains near El Crucerro and just the weekend before the Rip Jesse and a friend will hike the tallest peak in Baja, “El Diablo”. They will ride dirt bikes from their home in California to Diablo Dry Lake and “stash” the bikes in the bushes and take two days to climb to the peak.

Did we mention that Jesse is a Baja Nomad? Oh and just for fun Jesse competes in running races at 10,000 plus feet, maybe he’s just a nut job..... In the real world Jesse is a LA County Paramedic and will wear many hats on the Rip to the Tip 2010. He will be a rider, a translator (he’s fluent in Spanish), a Medic and both trail sweep and lead. We have yet to find anything Jesse can’t do in his beloved Baja. Percentage of chance Jesse will complete every mile on the Rip.....110%

Rider: Kevin Ward

Kevin Ward has raced in the legendary SCORE Baja 1000, a grueling 1,000-mile off-road dash through the tortuous desert terrain of Mexico. He even won his class. On a motorcycle. And like the Baja 1000, his route to becoming a director of photography has been a circuitous journey.

With such hobbies as racing motorcycles and cars, Ward began his career as a stunt driver. Cameras didn’t catch his eye until he was in Utah on the production of a TV movie. Ward, also an avid rock and ice climber, was the stunt rigger. After the camera platforms and safety systems were set on a rock face, the camera operators were hit with sudden cowardice.

In repels Ward, and, with some guidance by radio, he got the shot. In 1991, while working his way up the camera department ranks, Ward caught a break while doubling for NASCAR driver Rusty Wallace in a Winston Cup car. Dana Christiansen was shooting, and after some lunchtime schmoozing by Ward, the DP took him on as a 1st AC. Ward then climbed the ladder much faster, notching his first feature credit as a director of photography in 1995 with the straight-to-video title Taken Alive. To date, he is proudest of Dust to Glory (2005), a documentary directed by Dana Brown that chronicles the Baja 1000 and its mythos.

Rider: Bill Hollenbeck

Bill Hollenbeck, from Encinitas CA, is a long time motocrosser/racer. He began riding and racing at the age of 9 and his passion for the sport has continued. To fund his fun and stay somewhat out of trouble during his non-riding time (and out of trouble with his wife), he’s a general contractor by day. “This is my first big desert ride and I am looking forward to the challenge.” “A special thanks to my wife Angelique and my boys Garrett and Connor for giving me a hall pass to Rip to the Tip.”

Rider: Mike Ewy aka "Hound Dog"

AGE: 54
HOMETOWN: las vegas, nv

Rider: Ryan Oulette

Ryan Ouellette is the President and founder of Pala Raceway. While never having much success on the race track his passion for the sport never faded.He originally started Competition Park and saw a need for a facility in San Diego. He sold Comp Park 1998 and since then he has dedicated his spare time to opening Pala Raceway which operates with the help of a small group of investors.

Ryan's trip began while skiing with Bruce Hendle in Mammoth...the offer was made and , he will be trying to shake the title of "Fresh Fish" for the 2010 ride. The ride was made possible by the entire staff at Pala for giving him a hall pass from work as well as the Pala Band of Mission Indians, Pala Casino,Komatsu,North County House of Motorcycles,SPY, NO FEAR, Toyota of Escondido,FMF,TAG, DC, Pro Prept.....and of course his wife Amy and two children, Courtney and Austin.

Baja Experience:
Riding- NONE
Night Life- Vet Pro