0702 Hours: No surprises here, Temecula Motorsportsquad rider Mike Cafro pioneers his Roll Design Honda 250R to what his team hopes to be another Baja victory run. We caught up with the team yesterday during contingency, while mechanic Kevin Avina gave the quad one last look over. Cafro will run the first 60 miles to Ojos and the last 200. Rider of record Jimmy Stephenson will take the quad through the rough in between. Cafro is the backbone of Baja experience for the team, while, he claims, Stephenson is more of the speed.

0644 Hours: The moist fog blankets the cool morning in Guadalupe Valley. Just above the shifting warmth of the crackling fire, the lonely vaquerro sings his last note before the darkness gives way to the start of the 2002 Tecate SCORE Baja 500.

Honda Red Rider Steve Hengeveld blasts through Guadalupe Wash in perfect rythm aboard his XR650R motorcycle, some 30-odd miles into the race. So far, he's gained the physical lead by nearly two minutes over his closest competitor, as he leads the way to Valley De Trinidad. There, Johnny Campbell, who suprisingly made his way from the injury list after his get off earlier this year at the Best In The Desert Terrible's Town 250, will take the handle bars all the way to the power station.

Keith Mayes leads the ensuing pack of Hondas, which includes Honda Rider Andy Grider, followed closely by Temecula Motorsports' Brian Penard, Arron Tuck, and Jefferson Rogers to close out the front runners.

Arron Tuck, in a classic pose, yanks the throttle back and blasts through Guadalupe Wash heading toward Ojos Negros. He is just shy of the lead by a couple minutes.
	Even though they live just a stone throw away, here in the Guadalupe Valley, these die-hard race fans camped it out in the thick fog to watch Hengeveld grace the race course with his lead.

Race@Off-Road.com