ENSENADA BAJA CA MEXICO – Bajarallymoto.com officially announced today the addition of an “Adventure Bike” class to the 2014 BAJA RALLY 2.0 taking place here this September 24-28. The new “ADV EXPERT” class includes modified adventure bikes ranging from 700cc-1000cc and is generally targeted toward BMW F800GS and KTM 990. There is also a strict approval process that both riders and bikes must complete before being officially entered. Applicants simply email their resume and references and will be screened for racing experience, overall skills and must be pre-approved prior to being given a riding number.

“The BAJA RALLY is no joke. It will be hard and safety is our top priority,” explained rally director Scotty Breauxman, “we have a subjective process for accepting riders into this new class and it was designed to include only the most qualified riders in the world. It’s not like any John Doe can just show up in Ensenada and enter the rally on a KTM 990. I think most riders would be overly challenged by the extra weight and I can’t see any advantage of riding a 990 over a 450 because the routes have some fairly technical sections.”

The perfect example of the prime target for the ADV Expert class is Canadian racer Radek Burkat who became the first entrant to be accepted into this new elite class. The well rounded Burkat had a noble showing at the King Of The Motos, a Baja 1000 solo finish and plenty of big bike riding experience. He also completed professional rally navigation training earlier this season.

“We’re particularly excited about expanding the field to include these big bikes and the expert riders,” Breauxman concludes, “This is an important group that keeps growing and getting more relevant. These are the same riders who will be following the stage routes as spectators of BAJA RALLY events several years from now.”

The “ADV”, or “adventure touring” segment is the fastest growing of any sub-market in the North American motorcycle industry and powered by 40-60 year old males with mean annual incomes of $80,000+. More information at ADV Moto Magazine

The BAJA RALLY is the first and only “road-book” navigation-based rally raid for motorcycles only In Baja CA, Mexico. Taking place over 5 days in Septemebr (24-28), the BAJA RALLY features 4 days of off-road rally motorcycle racing over 800 miles of timed special stages and non-timed transfer stages. Likened to a traveling, cultural human experience, the rapidly growing BAJA RALLY 2.0 is the closest thing to the Dakar Rally to take place in North America.