Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/128204
(Left) The sign reads "Steele, freestyle your way thru this." As in ESPN announcer Cameron Steele. (Right) Malcolm Smith still has the stuff. (Below) Taco time. Mark Kariya shows us what hsppens when you let photographers ride motorcycles. r - -. " ;/" ~ 't'-\ (Below) Tom Webb (left) wonders who the hell gave Larry Roeseler keys to the golf cart. FORE! (Below) The winners of the Sand-Slam-Bam Elimination, (from left to right) Cycle World's Jimmy Lewis in third, Cameron Steele in second, and KTM's Revelle Harrison the winner. rock through the case is a distinct possibility. The bike I rode was KTM's 250EXC four-stroke, which ended up being an absolutely perfect bike for Baja. Last year I rode a Yamaha WR426, which was a little difficult to wrestle in the tight stuff. The KTM, on the other hand, was awesome because of its light weight, quick steering and electric start, combined with the fact that the bike actually makes more than enough power for the types of trails we were on. I'll have to admit that I was riding like crap the morning of the first day and just couldn't get into the swing of things. I had a few comical mishaps that Mitch was in a perfect position to witness. I had a few tip-overs, but nothing major. Right before lunch I started to worry about fuel and started short-shifting even more diligently than I already had been, but it was when Ash ran out of gas that I started to really worry. Especially considering that he had a huge oversized tank on his Yamaha YZ426. We sat on the side of the trail for about 15 minutes, begging anyone who passed by with a four stroke for juice. We were trying to target the guys with XR650s with huge desert tanks, and luckily, Ash found a few guys who were willing to share. We made it to the lunch stop without any further drama and proceeded to feast on barbequed goat. The second half of the day wasn't as gnarly as the morning had been and actually had more fast fire trails combined with some sand washes. The washes were filled with willow trees that reminded me why I had fitted those handguards. Ash didn't have any, but I think he fitted a set for the return trip. I had learned this lesson last year after I pulled into Baja Mar with bloody knuckles - I wasn't about to show up without them (the guards, not the bloody knuckles). At the end of the first day, we pulled into the Baja Mar resort just south of Rosarito, where Alex Baylon from Motonation (Sidi boots) was waiting with open arms and beer. I opted for the beer. Sorry, Alex, I just don't see what your wife sees. The following day was an open day with either a golf tournament or a trip to Cantamar Dunes, where some scenes from On Any Sunday were filmed. As it turns out, my roommate while staying at Baja Mar was none other than Malcolm Smith. He told me stories about traveling down to Baja back in the late '60s and early '70s to the same dunes, which sounded really cool. I'm sure that there eye I e were plenty of other guys there who would have killed to room with a legend like Malcolm, but instead he was stuck with me - a road race guy who has only been riding motocross on a regular basis for two and a half years. As it turns out I thoroughly enjoyed Malcolm's company and had a nice time listening to his stories and now have jumped on board with everyone else who appreciates his status as a true off-road racing hero. After playing golf at Baja Mar last year, there was no way I was going to miss another opportunity to play such a killer course. If you aren't into golf, skip this paragraph (Bill Berroth real men play golf, because they can ride motorcycles whenever they damn well please). The course is called the "Pebble Beach south of the border," and when you see the majestic views from the Oceano course, n e _ 50 • MARCH 12,2003 45