Ontario, CA (11/30/2009) - There is no tougher test of man
and machine than the SCORE Baja 1000. ITP
has just aced that test by winning the 2009
event in the Sportsman UTV class on BajaCross
tires and T-9 Pro Mod wheels. This class
was dominated by the Team Green Kawasaki
DragonFire Racing team, with Reid Nordin,
Hans Waage, Todd Romano and Larry Roeseler
at the wheel of their Kawasaki Teryx. This
talented crew enjoyed a nearly flawless
run, completing the 672-mile/1000-kilometer
course in northern Baja in a time of 24:32:37,
for an average speed of 27.41 mph over what
many considered to be one of the most demanding
Baja 1000 courses in some time. Of 328 starters,
just 185 finished — only 56.4 percent!
It was the second big win for the team this
season, having captured the Baja 500 in
June on BajaCross tires as well.
If not for some fuel-related technical
issues, the second car fielded by this
team could have had a real shot of making
it a one-two performance. Driving duties
in the DragonFire Racing-prepped ITP/Carlisle
Teryx were handled by Dave Roberts, Bob
Viau, Chris Koch, John McCarthy, Cody
Currie and Fred Sutter, with backing from
Black Rock off-road wheels and Ultimax
performance belts. This entry was the
fourth Sportsman UTV entry to cross finish
line in Ensenada, but was just outside
the official time limit. This was an outstanding
performance for a team with limited experience
in Baja, in a new car that was put together
in a very short timeframe. Everyone agreed
that it was a great adventure, and vowed
to return.
Both teams benefited greatly from the
durability and performance of their ITP
BajaCross tires and new ITP T-9 Pro Mod
spun aluminum wheels (with ITP T7 Beadlock
rings). In an event that’s notoriously
tough on tires, neither team suffered
a single tire failure. The Roberts-led
squad even ran the same set of tires and
T-9 Pro Mod wheels they used for over
200 miles of pre-running in the weeks
leading up to the event! It was an outstanding
debut for the T-9 Pro Mod, proving their
lightweight yet durable capabilities in
the world’s most rigorous test lab.
Congratulations to everyone involved
in this inspiring effort. You showed once
again how tough it is to compete in the
Baja 1000, and how ITP tires and wheels
can stand up to the test!
About ITP:
Since 1982, ITP has grown into the world's
#1 ATV aftermarket tire and wheel source,
and continues to provide a complete line
of innovative tires and wheel for virtually
all ATVs and UTVs. To order, contact your
favorite distributor. For a copy of ITP’s
full-color product catalog, call toll-free:
1-800-859-4740. For other inquiries or
technical advice, contact ITP at 930-A
S. Rockefeller Ave., Ontario, CA 91761;
(909) 390-1905. Or visit ITP’s website
at www.itptires.com.
