Pre-Entries and Starting Draw aren't posted on
BITD Web Site as of this writing, so we are eager to see who is
riding what, with who, as they check in at the Blue Water Casino in
Parker on Friday. In the meantime, here are the rumors -Pros to Watch in 2004:
Watch for Golden West Cycle team lead by Doug
Eichner to be on a new Honda TRX450R instead of a 2-stroke, as they
rode in past (when they were headline-sponsored by Duncan Racing).
Last year they were first quad over the line at the Parker event,
14 minutes ahead of second place - in fact 12th overall, spanking
many bikes as well.
Expect the Johnson
Racing Team to be on a new Suzuki Z400, after having a rough season
last year. They started 2003 on a Suzuki, but after a 10th place
Pro finish at the Parker event one year ago, they decided to run
most of the season on a Honda 650. They had been Honda-mounted in
'91 when they won the Pro Championship, but they couldn't get a
break in 2003 no matter what they rode; 8th at Adelanto, 7th at
Terrible's Town, DNF at Vegas to Reno, 9th at Las Vegas 200. They
finished 10th overall for the year, so it's not too surprising they
are trying something completely new.
CT
Racing - Jimmy Stephensen - riding a chain-drive Kawasaki VForce
automatic. Last year they were successful with a KFX400, winning
the Terrible's Town 250. This new VForce will be a very unique
entry, and we'll be watching them with great interest. Will bring
you some up-close pix from Tech inspection if we can sneak a
peak.
Expect both Alba Teams - Wayne
Matlock and Steve Beilman - to be on new Z400's. Matlock was on a
Suzuki for his second place finish at Parker last year, but Beilman
was Yamaha-mounted - and DNFed.
Colby
Tuner, Pro-ATVer from Arizona and a new addition to the ORC ATV
Staff, will be on a Honda 310.
BITD ATV Desert
Racing by UM Performance | 
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Experts We'll be Watching:
The Top Experts from 2003 are holding their
ground, as far as we know. Have no confirmations or even rumors of
Experts making the leap to Pro.
Last year's
Expert winner at this event and all-around great guy, Todd Hunter,
ended his 2003 season riding for Duncan racing at the SCORE Baja
1000. He had loaned out his quad for the BITD final race of 2003,
the Vegas 200, and was planning to ride a quad prepped by Duncan
racing, but things happened and he ended up without a ride. He'll
be itching to hit it hard at Parker.
2003
Sportsman Champion (over Expert & Amateur classes) Ed Teixeira
was second at Parker last year. Second also at Vegas to Reno and
Vegas 200, he is due for a win, and the quad he debuted at Vegas in
December looks ready to deliver.
Expert
Lynn Prosser was always an interesting entry. Changing teammates
regularly, she also posted widely different finishes. She didn't
race at Parker last year, won Terrible's Town, won Vegas to Reno;
then was DQ-ed at Baja Mex and finally took third at Vegas 200.
Last year about the only thing you could count on was that she
would be riding a Bombardier DS650. We'll see what she's riding,
and with who, in less than 24 hours. This may be her year to break
out and take a championship, if she rides consistently.
Marc Choquette, yanked out of retirement by Team
ORC for their class-winning ride at the 2003 Vegas to Reno, will be
coming from Texas to Parker for the first time with Team Guilty.
They had a great time at the Vegas 200, and despite a pretty
incredible day of mechanical difficulties, did pull out a finish
and are excited to go again in 2004. (Check out Team Guilty's
account of that race.)
You may remember
Team ORC rode a Yamaha Raptor for the 2003 race season, and
struggled with mechanical difficulties at several races. They did
manage to finish all races but one, and ended up second in
Sportsman points for the year, but are going a new direction for
2004. Finding a quad better-suited to the team riders, they will be
riding a Suzuki Z400 for 2004. This smaller, more agile quad will
get some serious beefing-up, and is expecting to give them
confidence and allow them to focus on riding the course, instead of
battling the quad. They'll be Q42 for this season.
That's what we know at this point. We're on the road (driving
through Western Blizzard conditions, headed for 75 degrees at the
oasis of Parker!). We'll bring you Contingency Friday night, race
pix and story Saturday, full photo gallery in a couple days.
Talk ATV Racing on our ATV Racing Message Board
OR Send us an EMAIL: Race@Off-road.com
BITD ATV Desert
Racing by UM Performance |
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Best in the
Desert
3475 C Boulder Highway
Las Vegas, Nevada 89121
(702) 457-5775 Phone
(702) 641-2431 Fax
www.bitd.com
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