Robby Gordon to Start Third in 49th Annual Baja 1000

Ensenada, B.C., Mexico (November 17, 2016) – Three-time SCORE Baja 1000 champion Robby Gordon, and veteran navigator Kellon Welch will tackle the ultra challenging Baja Mexico terrain in the grand-daddy of desert races Friday morning, when the 2016 Baja 1000 starts from Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico. 

This year’s 49th running of the SCORE Baja 1000 will feature 31 of the world’s best desert racers in the premiere Trophy Truck division who will navigate the grueling 854.5-mile course over the span of nearly 20 hours. Gordon, a seven-time SCORE International Off-Road Champion, and a five-time Baja 500 winner will look to veteran Class-1 Racer Damen Jefferies of Apple Valley, Calif. take over of the driving duties the No. 200 SPEED Energy / Toyo Tires/ TRAXXAS trophy truck for a portion of the race giving Gordon a much needed break to regroup for a strong push to the end.  

This years loop race will feature a technical and fast course that will start in front of the historic Riviera del Pacifico Cultural Center in Ensenada, and head out of town southeast towards Ojos Negros. Going past Rancho Grijalva, El Mezcal, and Uruapan before changing direction at Santo Tomas towards the west coast of the Baja California peninsula. From Santo Tomas the course runs a high-speed 100 mi. down the coastline to San Quintin, Nuevo Odisea, and then to El Rosario. 

From El Rosario the course will zig zag competitors up the well known La Vivora hill to then loop around San Juan de Dios, and back to San Quintin to run back North on the east side of the highway towards Colonet. From there the course will travel a new route from Colonet to Llano Colorado, and across over to Valley de Trinidad on the east side of the peninsula. Then from there the race course goes along side the highway from San Matias to Villa de Sol crossing over the highway at El Chinero, north to Coabuso Junction then out to Borrego up Hwy 1 to Nuevo Juntion. When the competitors make it to this point they are on the final stretch back of the 854.5 mile journey to the finish line in downtown Enscenada. 

As the field takes the green in 60-second increments, the SPEED Energy / Toyo Tires / TRAXXAS trophy truck will pull to the starting line chasing the dust of just two trucks. 

For the third straight year Baja 1000 qualifying was held on November 1 in Las Vegas, Nevada in conjunction with the SCORE International off-road experience at the world renown SEMA show, the largest automobile aftermarket show in the world. This year’s qualifying course was contained strictly on the Las Vegas Motor Speedway short course track. Drivers took three laps around the course with the fastest lap being recorded as their scored time. 

Navigating the course in a time of 3 minutes and 8 seconds, placed Gordon in the third starting position overall. Gordon will take the green flag in the world famous desert race at 10:33 a.m. PT Friday morning behind fast qualifier Kyle Leduc and Justin Matney.

The No. 200 Trophy Truck is supported by SPEED Energy, Toyo Tires, TRAXXAS, Arctic Cat, KMC Wheels, Outlaw LED, 4 Wheel Parts, Chevrolet, Magnaflow Exhaust, Eibach Springs, Mastercraft Safety, Embee Performance, MAC Tools, Impact, Lincoln Welders, Ron Davis Racing Products, Techni Waterjet, Hella, Mechanix Wear, Saftey-Kleen, Kartek Off-Road, Jamar, Trelleborg, Valvoline, Loctite, Macs, Torchmate, and T-Rex Grills.

To follow Robby, Kellon, and Damen on their quest for the 49th Annual Baja 1000 championship, updates will be available at PlanetRobby.com and Facebook.com/StadiumSuperTrucks throughout the race. 

Arctic Cat Introduces New Wildcat X and Wildcat 4x Models with RG PRO Suspension and Chassis Improvements

Minneapolis, Minn. (Sept. 16, 2016) – Arctic Cat continued its foot-on-the-gas approach to new ROV and ATV model introductions by releasing its second wave of new-for-2017 models, including the new Wildcat X and Wildcat 4X models featuring the all-new RG PRO rear suspension.

Three new Wildcat side-by-sides headline the latest 2017 model releases: the two-occupant Wildcat X EPS and Wildcat X Limited EPS, plus the four-occupant Wildcat 4X EPS. All three models feature an entirely new RG PRO rear suspension package that was designed in partnership with racing legend Robby Gordon and aimed at professional-level riders who demand the ultimate big bump off-road performance.

The innovative X models also feature new race-inspired ROPS cage; KING aluminum gas shocks; custom cast-aluminum KMC wheels; and a host of chassis improvements for pro-level performance. The results deliver the most capable off-road machines available, with custom features and pricing that exceed previous standards.

These three machines join the six new models introduced in June for yet another unprecedented rollout of new models in a single season. Arctic Cat now offers 30 class-leading machines for all categories of off-road work and play.

 We’ve expanded our 2017 line of Arctic Cat dirt products to provide the most innovative technology, maximum performance and class-leading value,” said Greg Williamson, Arctic Cat Chief Marketing Officer, “And we’re not done yet! These models and subsequent machines will continue to deliver the ultimate off-road experience to every enthusiast.”

 

Robby Gordon Wins Stadium SUPER Trucks Night 1 in Costa Mesa, California

Costa Mesa, California (September 16, 2016) – On a night where 11 Stadium SUPER Truck (SST) drivers returned to the series’ roots in Southern California, it was Robby Gordon who came out on top besting P.J. Jones at the OC Fair and Event Center Friday night.

The temporary race track the SST staff built adjacent to the world renown Sand Sports Super Show features various aspects of the 2016 SST World Championship season including sweeping high-speed turns, a difficult sand pit section, multiple tight corners, and a massive cross-over jump that sends competitors flying over another section of the race track with trucks passing directly underneath. 

After a series of single truck qualifying runs and heat races, Friday’s 20-lap main event– which featured the entire field of SST’s on DOT approved Toyo Open Country A/T II tires saw TRAXXAS driver Matt Brabham from Surfers Paradise, Queensland, Australia jump out to the early lead after the land rush standing start. Brabham would remain in that position until getting pressure from Orange, California’s Robby Gordon whom muscled his way past truck after truck to the front of the field. Brabham would hold off the hard charging Gordon for multiple laps until Gordon would opt to take the joker lane late in the event and slip past Brabham by a near bumper.

The last lap would see Brabham trying hard to get back past Gordon, but would come up short as P.J. Jones substitute driving for Pat O’Keefe in the SafeCraft Safety Systems truck would quietly work his way into contention and make contact with Brabham moving him out of the way.

Gordon would go on to win the event ahead of Jones, and the third finishing Brabham.