San Felipe 250

Apr 21, 2022

San Felipe is a small town on the north east coast of the Baja California peninsula. A charm drenched Mexican fishing village that calmly awaits its most anticipated happening of the year, The SCORE San Felipe 250. A race that is round 1 of the World Desert Racing Championship, and highlighted and bookended by the infamous Baja 1000.

The week leading up to this race is a steady stream of trucks toting buggies, motorcycles, and trophy trucks to the village. The local kids line up to see their racing heroes, patiently waiting for autographs and stickers. The local parents pull up chairs on the Malecon with an ice chest full of cold cervezas to watch the absurdity of machines that have become modern offroad racing.

My two best buds Ciaran Naran and Nick Lapaglia and I are generally happy enough to be simply lounging beachside drinking Mai Tai’s or having a romp on some vintage two wheeled machines out at my ranch. Every now and then though, we get the hair brained idea to test ourselves at some these events, ones that can only be described as the most brutal desert racing events this side of North America.

So, we made a few calls. That led us to picking up a brand new Husqvarna FE501, and all the best goodies and parts from our favorite brands and kind supporters that we could lay our hands on. With all this kit we built a race machine and registered for this year's San Felipe 250.

Like everyone else, we loaded our vans with everything we could think of to tackle a race like, squeezing last little bits in over the top leaving just enough room to get the doors shut.

Well, nearly everything…. As it turned out, the 3 pre-runner motorcycles that we had ordered from Husqvarna didn't arrive in time. “Pre-Running” the race course is crucial when racing in Baja. It gives the racer an opportunity to familiarize themselves with their section of the race course, strategize specific pit service locations, access points for chase vehicles, etc, etc etc. With no time to spare, I loaded up my trusty 2019 Honda Baja 1000 race machine, Ciaran borrowed a bike from a generous friend and Nick dusted off the cobwebs on his Dad’s 2007 KTM 525, lovingly nicknamed the “Peterbilt”, a real tank among the modern machines. As we have grown accustomed to doing, we all had a chuckle and made the best of the situation. After all, we are riding motorcycles in Mexico, what's not to like?

The part about what is not to like? Well… that part is only understood when you’re out there clicking off miles on the San Felipe race course. Don’t let the shorter distance fool you, the San Felipe 250 is one of the most dangerous and grueling races of the year. Nonstop whoops, bumps, rocks, cactus. All of these obstacles are just one small mistake away from creating a real bad day. Before long the boys' borrowed machines started showing the lack of prep and age. A faulty transmission in Ciaran’s motorcycle manifested itself followed by a dodgy wheel bearing in the Peterbilt and that was only day 2… Mind you, with only three quarters of a bike between the two of them, Ciaran and Nick still made it happen. Just goes to show that the spirit of adventure pushed them forward. Or perhaps they were thinking a few sketchy days in the Mexican desert makes for great bench racing stories back home at the local pub.

I started the race and quickly handed the motorcycle over to Ciaran at race mile 1. We were in the lead, which Ciaran maintained till roughly race mile 30. While clipping along at 65+ MPH, a curious rock peeked out from underneath the sand and sent Ciaran flying through the air in spectacular fashion. He hit the ground hard and lost consciousness as well as the lead. With his left shoulder dislocated and his head fuzzy from the impact, it took him some time to gather his wits. It is in these moments that grit and determination are crucial. While our chances of winning were most likely over, the desert racers spirit always strives for a finish, as that alone, is half of the battle. Ciaran managed to pop his shoulder back into place, gather himself and ride the next 16 miles to the first pit. A huge feat that must be experienced to be understood.

The motorcycle had taken a big crash. Bits and bobs were hanging off or broken. The front brake spewed brake fluid, both front and rear fenders, snapped. The subframe was cracked and the taillight and headlight were left hanging by their wires. The front rim, which had taken the brunt of the initial impact, was more oval than round. And to all of our dismay, the race tracking device was missing in action as well, likely obliterated into a dozen pieces across the desert floor.

The pit crew (Ciaran’s dad, sister and a local Mexican bystander) and I arrived at pit 1 and got to work, beating the bike back into rideable shape. We lost considerable time, but made the machine worthy of the remaining 230ish miles to the finish and Nick and I did just that. Clicking off each mile till the finish. Not as planned and not ideal, but at the end of the race we were 6th place pro motorcycle in the unlimited class.

Sure we were way off the lead bikes, but weren’t the last either. There were those who had more of a challenging day than us. The desert is unforgiving and got the best of us today. Surprisingly I've never felt more motivated to return for the next one and gather up some more stories to tell.

Photos by the always impressive Ed West & Mounce.
Words by Forrest Minchinton

#deuscustoms

ENGLISH TEXT BELOW

Setiap tahun, teman-teman kita Tasix Adventure—penyelenggara petualangan ban berlumpur dan adrenalin berbahan bakar terbaik di Bali—mengadakan acara akhir pekan berkemah yang sangat dinanti-nantikan. Mereka menamakannya “ The Wild,” dan jujur saja, tidak ada kata yang lebih pas dari itu.

Ini bukan sekadar acara; ini adalah petualangan wajib bagi siapa saja yang mencintai tanah, tantangan, dan persahabatan yang hanya bisa terjalin saat tertawa melihat teman lain terjatuh.

Hal tentang The Wild adalah misterinya. Kamu tidak tahu ke mana akan pergi, bagaimana sampai di sana, atau apa yang akan kamu temui—seperti hidup, tapi dengan lebih banyak asap knalpot.

Tahun ini, The Wild yang berlangsung pada 7 Desember 2024, mengumpulkan 135 pecinta motor enduro, trail, dan cross di Desa Kopi, Tabanan. Tepat pukul 9 pagi, kami berangkat menuju Desa Gesing, Singaraja. Rute tetap dirahasiakan hingga hari acara, meningkatkan sensasi penasaran dan antusiasme. Dengan dibagi menjadi beberapa kelompok kecil, kami melengkapi diri dengan perlengkapan motocross lengkap untuk menghadapi tantangan musim hujan.

Perjalanan? Murni magis. Jalur berkelok melalui permata tersembunyi Bali, di mana setiap tikungan menawarkan pemandangan yang memukau atau hampir membuat jantung berhenti. Rute tahun ini menghadirkan medan tanah liat merah—dijuluki tanah "keramik" karena teksturnya yang licin dan keras saat basah. Untuk melintasinya, diperlukan teknik khusus yang disebut “paddling the throttle,” sebuah manuver yang mendebarkan dengan motor yang sering bergoyang liar. Dari kejauhan, mungkin terlihat lucu, tetapi saat di atas motor? Ceritanya berbeda.

Setelah menempuh 68 kilometer petualangan liar, kami tiba di perkemahan di puncak bukit yang sudah dipenuhi tenda-tenda peserta lain dan deru knalpot. Destinasi selalu mencuri perhatian, dan yang satu ini tidak terkecuali—tempat tinggi dengan pemandangan 360 derajat yang menakjubkan dari laut, gunung, hingga kota.

Saat hujan turun, tenda-tenda didirikan, dan malam itu diisi dengan berbagi cerita tentang penyelamatan heroik dan kecelakaan yang menggelikan. Dan tentu saja, ada balapan. Bayangkan sekelompok pengendara penuh semangat meluncur di perbukitan dalam kekacauan yang terkontrol. Balapan tahun ini termasuk duel 1 lawan 1 yang seru di sekitar puncak bukit, dengan peserta menyelesaikan dua putaran penuh adrenalin.

Bukan soal menang; ini tentang hadir, tertawa, dan menikmati momen. Para pemenang dan peserta tercepat yang mencapai puncak bukit dirayakan dengan hadiah, tetapi senyuman, persahabatan, dan kebersamaan membuat semua orang merasa seperti juara.

The Wild tahun ini benar-benar sesuai namanya, bahkan lebih. Petualangan, tawa, dan cukup banyak tanah di gigi untuk menyebutnya otentik—kami tidak akan menginginkannya dengan cara lain. Terima kasih yang sebesar-besarnya kepada semua peserta yang menjadikannya pengalaman tak terlupakan. Sampai jumpa di petualangan berikutnya!

Every year, our mates over at Tasix Adventure—Bali’s finest purveyors of muddy tyres and fuel-driven adrenaline—host their much-anticipated camp-out weekend. They’ve named it “Wild,” and honestly, there’s no better word for it.

It’s not just an event; it’s a pilgrimage for anyone who loves dirt, daring, and the kind of camaraderie you can only forge while laughing at someone else’s wipeout.

The thing about Wild is that it’s shrouded in mystery. You don’t know where you’re going, how you’ll get there, or what you’ll find—kind of like life, but with more exhaust fumes.

This year’s Wild, held on Saturday, December 7, 2024, brought together 135 enthusiasts of enduro, trail, and cross motorcycles at Desa Kopi, Tabanan. The route was kept a secret until the event day, heightening the thrill of the unknown. At exactly 9 am, they shared the destination, Desa Gesing, Singaraja, Divided into small groups, we geared up with full motocross kits to tackle the rainy season’s challenges.

The ride? Pure magic. Twisting trails through Bali’s hidden gems, where every turn promised either breathtaking views or breathtaking near-misses. This year’s route featured red clay terrain—nicknamed "ceramic" soil for its slick, hard texture when wet. Navigating it required a special technique called “paddling the throttle,” a nerve-wracking maneuver that had bikes swaying wildly. From a distance, it might have looked hilarious, but on the bike? It was a whole other story.

After 68 kilometres of this wild adventure, we arrived at the hilltop campsite already alive with the buzz of activity and the roar of exhausts. The destination always steals the spotlight, and this one was no exception—a high-altitude perch offering stunning 360-degree views of the sea, mountains, and city.

As the rain came down, tents went up, and the evening was all about swapping stories of heroic saves and laughable crashes. And then there were the races. Picture a pack of overexcited riders tearing up the hillside in what can only be described as controlled chaos. This year’s races included thrilling 1-on-1 duels around the hilltop, with participants pushing through two laps of sheer adrenaline.

It wasn’t just about winning; it was about showing up, laughing, and embracing the moment. The race winners and the fastest hilltop arrivals were celebrated with prizes, but the smiles, the camaraderie, and the shared triumphs made everyone feel like champions.

This year’s Wild lived up to its name and then some. Adventure, laughter, and just enough dirt in your teeth to call it authentic—we wouldn’t have it any other way. A massive thank you to all the participants who made it unforgettable. See you on the next adventure!