2024 Baja 1000: Wouter-jan Van Dijk set for second try

Wouter-jan Van Dijk stole the present on the 2023 Baja 1000 when he accomplished the complete race distance on his personal, with a bike that hardly handed SCORE Worldwide inspection, and was mainly falling aside on the seams and held collectively by zip ties. One 12 months later, he’ll actually hope his second begin goes slightly smoother however is up for the journey.

The 2023 1000 marked Van Dijk’s first time racing in SCORE, on encouragement from his good friend Shane Moss who had finished the 2019 race. Earlier than Baja, a lot of his racing expertise was in enduro which included Purple Bull Romaniacs.

“I didn’t have a lot expectations, actually,” Van Dijk advised the SCORE Journal. “I knew the way in which down can be enjoyable and a mad journey. I simply kind of wished to know a little bit of the totally different terrains earlier than the race, and I simply took the race expertise because it got here alongside.”

He purchased a KTM 500 EXC off Craigslist in San Diego earlier than crossing all of Baja California to the beginning of the race in La Paz. After frantically making last-second repairs and modifications to adjust to SCORE rules, he was on his means. Regardless of not having pre-run the course, he caught eyes together with his tempo early on. Because the race wore on, nevertheless, the KTM began to take harm that included a damaged bike rim and navigation system; to rectify the matter, he rapidly used zip ties to carry the tyre to the rim. To additional complicate issues, he was competing solo within the Professional Moto Ironman class, that means he had no team-mates to cross the bike off to.

He fought his means by means of the night time hours, throughout which followers and racers alike took discover. Varied groups and bystanders additionally lent their help, whether or not it’s helping in repairs or perhaps a snack earlier than rejoining the race. Positive sufficient, he reached the end in Ensenada simply previous midnight and positioned seventh at school.

For sure, his story took the racing world by storm. SCORE Journal editor Dan Sanchez described Van Dijk as “really an instance of what (SCORE President Sal) Fish had evisioned for SCORE.” The Off-Highway Motorsports Corridor of Fame named him one of many recipients of the Journey Affect Award for 2024.

With 2023 behind him, his focus now’s on the 2024 race. For higher or worse, the 869-mile (1,359.39 kilometres) course is way shorter than the 1,310.94 miles (2,109.75 km) he confronted final 12 months as a part of SCORE’s fiftieth anniversary.

To assist cowl bills like gear and journey, Van Dijk launched a GoFundMe in mid-October. As of this text’s publication, it has raised AUD$2,438 (€1,476.14).

“Any assist can be tremendously appreciated as I don’t assume the zip ties will maintain my rim collectively for an additional Baja journey,” Van Dijk quipped on social media. Like final 12 months, he’ll race in Professional Moto Ironman.

The 2024 Baja 1000 will kick off on 15 November.