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Joe Hogan on his
Suzuki LT-R450 ATV
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Brea, CA (12/3/2008) - Suzuki-mounted
Josh Hogan completed one of the most grueling
off-road races run in the world - the Tecate
Score Baja 1000 - and he did it entirely solo.
Hogan's feat was even more spectacular due to
the fact that he had never raced in Baja before.
The 41st running of Baja 1000 started on
November 21 in Ensenada, Mexico and covered
some of the most rugged terrain that the Baja
Peninsula can dish out. The Livermore, California
Suzuki rider was one of 347 starters and 31
solo riders. Hogan was one of only 18 who
finished the race without a relief rider,
and he did it with a time of 28 hours, 2 minutes
and 50 seconds. This secured him second in
the IronRider (solo rider) and 7th overall
in the Sportsman ATV class.
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Joe Hogan, Suzuki
Quadracer LTR450
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Hogan came armed with a talented crew and
the strong Suzuki QuadRacer R450. He got a
quick start and made great time passing teams
with up to five riders. As the night began
to fall, he had set a consistent average speed
of 36 miles per hour. This slowed when he
got to a section known as the San Felipe Whoops.
"These monster whoops were so big that
on a quad all I could do was take them slow
and know that no other ATV was going to be
making good time there as well."
After a long night in daunting conditions,
Hogan put his head down once the sun came
up and pushed hard for the final hundred miles
of the race.
"By the time I made it out of the whoops
it was close to midnight and I had been riding
for almost 16 hours. The rest of the night
went by in a blur and as the sun started to
rise I had finally reached the Pacific Ocean.
The last hundred miles of the Baja 1000 was
probably the most physically and mentally
grueling test of my life. By the time I reached
the finish line I could barely stand and it
took every ounce of strength I had to twist
the throttle."
It was an impressive display of strength,
skill, and perseverance, not only for Hogan,
but also for the Suzuki QuadRacer R450.
