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PRO 450cc ATV Team CHRISTY Wins SCORE Tecate San
Felipe 250
Andy Lagdzins leaving Race Mile 167
Dave Scott was already headed back home
so Steve Abrego, Andy Lagdzins and Craig
Christy asked the Tecate girls to accept
on his behalf. |
Christy’s Racing enjoyed a flawless weekend
in Baja. The team rolled into town a week
ahead of race day so they would have ample time
to pre-run the course and formulate an effective
strategy. This years team included Los
Angeles natives Craig Christy and Steve Abrego
as well as Dave Scott from Belen, New Mexico and
Andy Lagdzins from Baltimore, Maryland. The four
rider squadron was strengthened by four chase
crews equipped with spare parts, fresh fuel and
necessary tools to facilitate a smooth race.
At 6:45 in the morning, Christy rider Dave
Scott started the race as the 8th class 24 quad
off the line. Those that are familiar with
this event know that San Felipe is synonymous
with countless “whoops” that will fatigue even
the most fit athlete.
The first third of the course is so brutal
that many teams put fresh riders on at race mile
25 and/or RM 46. Dave was confident that he
could maintain a competitive pace till RM 61.
After a splash & go pit stop at RM 46, Dave made
it to RM 61, out of breath but grinning ear to
ear as he told rider number 2, Steve Abrego,
that he had passed 6 quads during his herculean
ride!
Armed with the knowledge that the team was
now in 1st place on time, Abrego rode like a man
possessed. He quickly overtook one quad
and was neck and neck with 104A as he came
within radio range of the next pit stationed at
RM 122. A crowd gathered around the
Christy Hummer to listen to the colorful
play-by-play commentary broadcasting from the
race bike. Steve and 104a swapped
positions at least three times through the silt
beds, even though the team was still in 1st
place, on time, and only moments away from
physically leading the race, the chase crew
stuck to the game plan and calmly added fuel,
changed the air filter and gave the quad a
visual once-over before allowing Andy Lagdzins
to start his 71 mile section.
It did not take Andy long to overtake 104a,
thus putting the team physically in 1st place.
Andy stopped briefly at RM167 for fuel and some
good news; he had created a 4 minute lead over
second place. Even though the chase crew
advised him to relax and maintain the gap
Lagdzins stretched the lead another 4 minutes by
the time he passed the quad to team principal
and rider of record; Craig Christy.
With the final race miles ahead, Craig put
the cruise control on and swiftly picked his way
through the boulder strewn Huatamote wash
and onto the final sprint to the finish. Christy
must have been able to taste victory as he
managed to increase the lead to 12 minutes.
Class 25 winner, Wayne Matlock, met Christy on
the podium with a couple celebratory Tecate
beers to toast both victories in classic Baja
fashion.
This epic result could not have been achieved
without the fantastic Duncan Racing / Honda
TRX-450R equipped with Elka Shocks, ITP tires,
PWR radiator, Fatboy 4 exhaust system and Sunoco
Race Fuels.
Additional support from Rockstar, Cycle Gear,
Joe Bernal, Beast Paddock Services, RGEAR,
Instinct Charter Boat and The Dirty Patrol were
sincerely appreciated.
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