Taming the Baja Peninsula: Again, again and again – Honda’s 1X Wins the SCORE Baja 1000

Oak Hills, California - (March 31, 2006)

Fresh off a triumphant victory at the 2005 Baja 1000 where race teams faced tall mountains, deep silt beds, powerful winds, as well as mental and physical fatigue, sat two motorcycle racers that are a vital part of Honda’s Red Rider Championship 1X race team.

Situated between the Honda 1X box van and a pimped out ski boat, sat half of a dozen Honda motorcycles in various stages of prepping. Each Honda motorcycle sat in meticulous condition, awaiting the attention of a master mechanic.

The walls of the Henge Racing (www.hengeracing.com) shop are plastered with trophies and awards from a slew of victories dating back to when Mr. 1X was 6 years old. Epic photos of the Honda 1X, cutting through the desert air, hanging from the walls set the stage for our exclusive interview.

The shining glare of Henge Racing’s Honda box van reflected a sea of red throughout the building. That familiar sea of red is the same Honda red that has conquered the famed SCORE Baja 1000 for nine straight overall motorcycle victories.

Motorcycles racing across the open desert of the Baja Peninsula catapulted adventure seekers into the off road motor sports lifestyle over three decades ago. The likes of motorcycle legends, such as J.N. Roberts, Jack Johnson and Malcolm Smith, are only a few of the personalities that make up the cadre of the world’s top open desert racers who have all battled for the ultimate crown in off road racing, the Baja 1000 Championship. It is the longest point-to-point off road race in the world, challenging the endurance of a racer’s body and mind as they charge through the wilds of an untamed landscape, known to the world as “Baja.”

DirtNewz was invited into the inner sanctum of Henge Racing by the man himself, after we had the chance to share this year’s Baja 1000 course with him. Although DirtNewz stuck to the four wheel division, this past Baja 1000 has been regarded by many as the most difficult Baja 1000 course in over two decades. Steve and his many Honda supporters launched an attack second to none at the biggest race in the off road world last year. The question isn’t just how they win, ride or survive the race. We were in search of the inner workings of the off road motorcycle racer who has been regarded by his peers as the “best night racer ever.” It’s been often said that Hengeveld slices the desert night like no other human on a motorcycle. That is quite an accolade coming from such a talent-rich group of professional off road motorcycle racers. We were interested in his prerunning strategies and what makes this guy tick, as he prepares for the race of his life, the famed Baja Mil.

The shop was still except for the quiet conversation between two friends who happen to make up two-thirds of the Baja 1000 Championship Red Rider Team. Only missing was one of Baja’s mystic motorcycle legends, Johnny Campbell.

Steve Hengeveld, the 29-year-old motorcycle champion, and Honda’s rising star, Mike Childress, chatted while DirtNewz set up filming equipment alongside the smiling duo.

Hengeveld is the winner of five SCORE Baja 500 overall wins and five SCORE Baja 1000 overall wins, as well as a three-time winner in Class 21 (250cc Pro Motorcycle) in the Baja 1000 and the overall winner of the once-in-a-lifetime SCORE Baja 2000. His credentials are impeccable. His skill – Superhuman.

This interview is the first of a three-part series exclusive to DirtNewz. The next segment will feature 2005 Baja 500 and 2005 Baja 1000 winner – Mike Childress, Honda’s rising star. The final segment features both Steve and Mike together as they detail how they had to overcome last minute changes as they charged towards the Ensenada finish line.