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Celebrating
at the 2009 awards banquet with
the SCORE Overall ATV trophy are
(l-r): Christy Racing crew members
Justin Gilbert and Beau Nilsson,
team owner and rider Craig Christy,
SCORE director Sal Fish, and rider
Andy Lagzdins
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Ontario, CA (12/15/2009)
- After a long and dusty season in the desert,
Christy Racing wrapped up the SCORE International
Class 24 and Overall Pro ATV titles with
a determined ride at the final event of
2009, the Baja 1000. With wins at the San
Felipe 250 and the Baja 500 earlier in the
year, the team needed only to complete the
1000 to clinch the 450 class championship.
But the overall title was still up for grabs,
depending on the outcome of the race. The
Baja 1000 win was out of reach for the Christy’s
team this time (they won in 2008), but a
strong third place finish was enough to
take series overall honors by a narrow four
point margin.
Led by team owner Craig Christy, the
Duncan Racing-prepped Honda TRX450R started
strong in the Baja 1000, with ex-GNCC
Pro rider and OMA Champion Andy Lagzdins
putting in a steady and conservative ride
to put the team in the hunt early. After
an extended stint by Steve Abrego around
the San Felipe area, Joe Bernal ran up
the edge of the Sea of Cortez and handed
the machine to 2008 Best in the Desert
Pro champ Dave Scott. As night fell on
the Baja peninsula, the lights also went
out on the Honda, requiring stator replacement
at the halfway mark of the race.
After this setback, Scott raced through
the most demanding section of the course:
Mike’s Sky Ranch. Avoiding overturned
buggies and broken trucks in the early
hours of the morning, Scott persevered
and handed the quad back to Lagzdins for
the run up the Pacific coast. Coming into
Santo Tomas with the ITP Holeshot XCT-clad
machine working flawlessly, Lagzdins handed
off to Christy, who would endure the last
leg of the course to the finish. Christy
crossed the line after 29 hours of grueling
terrain and challenges to secure his first
SCORE Overall Championship. One set of
ITP Holeshot tires lasted the entire Baja
1000 race, and their legendary ITP reliability
and performance made yet another championship
possible.
The SCORE International Series is considered
by many to be the pinnacle of endurance
racing, and Team Christy’s success
couldn’t have been realized without
the help and support of ITP Tires, Duncan
Racing, Elka Suspension, Moose Racing,
Alpinestars, Rockstar Energy Drink, PWR
Radiators, Cycle Gear and DirtFirst.
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.
