VOL. 50 ISSUE 23 JUNE 11, 2013
P71
(Left) What should've been a simple
low-side twisted Robby Bell's ankle
and set the tone for a number of
other problems the THR Kawasaki
team would face. Bell managed to
keep the team in front for a while, but
David Pearson crashed on the way
down from The Summit, wrenching
his back, though he was able to finish
that section and give the bike back to
Bell. However, Bell had to get back on
and ride Pearson's next section out
towards the coast and, unfamiliar with
the section, ceded a little time. Baja
rookie Taylor Robert then got on the
bike and blitzed his section, getting
the team back in the running before
handing off to Steve Hengeveld, who
tried to keep that going but hitting an
unseen rock at about 90 mph left him
on the deck with a broken leg and
ankle. Robert and then Bell would get
the bike back in the race and finish
fifth in 11:15:27 - disappointing for the
last year's winners.
