Name: Adam Forch, 33 Hometown: Colorado Springs, CO Day Job: IT Security I was introduced to rally riding a few years ago and have participated in a couple informal rally rides. As soon as I saw the announcement for the Baja Rally, I knew it was something I wanted to do. Seeing the class of the other entrants has been quite humbling. For me, this rally is all about the experience and the journey.
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I’m originally from Illinois, grew up on bicycles, not motorcycles and spent a lot of time on two wheels as a young kid, though none of it racing. At 18, I had a motorcycle accident that threatened not only my career in the Marine Corps, but my ability to walk. Much thanks to the doctors who put humpty dumpty back together. I eventually recovered to nearly 100% and this accident however, didn’t sway my love for bikes. I bought a cruiser several years later and immediately started scraping hard parts. Years later I bought a sportbike and did a few track days. Then my boss bought an XR650L. At the time I was living in Tijuana and the thought of having a dualsport for the roads down there was enticing, so I found one too. Over the next few years, the change from a stock XR650L to what it is today, has been a labor of love. Of motorcycles and learning and building. I live in Tijuana for the past 9 years, though I’m currently stationed north of Reno just now and speak nearly fluent Spanish. I can’t wait to get home. I’ve had the pleasure of chasing for a handful of teams for Score races including Mark Vanscourt, Joe Bolton and Phil Walker, and Team Ghetto for the MX1K 2012. To date, I’ve only participated in rides, but my first Rally, the Reno Rally 2013, was a blast. I fell, got hurt, got lost, broke parts and got passed by everyone and was out day two because of my tower failure. Thanks to Rally Navigator for making roadbooks an easy creation and putting the ability to ride local routes in our hands. This tool is a revolutionary tool for Rally Racing. Thanks to CycleWizard, Steve Schroeder, Renazco Seats. LR is a legend among bike racers for his lengthy career in motocross and supercross before joining Team Green as a Factory rider in 1987. He holds more than 2 dozen SCORE titles. He’s won everything in BAJA, holds 10 ISDE Gold Medals, AMA National Hare and Hound and National Enduro titles. He’s a contract driver for the Herbst Racing Team and still competes at every level. Recently, LR took the hole-shot from young desert ace Justin Morgan at grand prix race in Tecate where LR took the podium. As a former DAKAR RALLY racer, LR brings a ton of value and credibility to the inaugural BAJA RALLY. RJ needs no introduction among bike fans. The 7 time AMA Champ was inducted into the prestigious AMA Hall of Fame in 1999 and the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2012. RJ is a BAJA vet who has raced and won in buggies trucks and on the bike. He appeared as Mouse MCCoy's confidante in the documentary Film Dust to Glory RJ's Supercross legacy continues to push the limits with his truck racing as he goes for the $500,000 prize money in Robby Gordon's Stadium Super Trucks Series. Among SCORE and his already packed race schedule, RJ is busy every weekend. He cleared out his schedule for the Inaugural BAJA RALLY and was one of the first to sign up simply because, "I just want to do a motorcycle race in BAJA without Trophy Trucks on the same course." Phil Walker has competed in many forms of racing from enduros to supermoto, although he prefers adventures that require long days in the saddle. In 2011 he finished 3rd solo in the Baja 1000. He lives in the Salt Lake City area with his wife and two kids. Sponsors: Klim, Sidi (MotoNation), Warp9, WolfSnout, Konflict Motorsports, Highway Dirt Bikes, Rich's Performance, LocalHeroMX.com Phil “BicyclePhil” Bowman DOB 9.1.1961 KTM 500 Riding off-road since 2005. Member San Francisco Motorcycle Club 2007 Death Valley Rally 2008 V2R 2010 Rally Dos Sertoes District 36 Enduros and Hare Scrambles Big fan of rally raid and like to race when I can. I’m thrilled to see that Scotty has stepped up and is bringing rally raid to North America. I’m proud to represent the SFMC down in Baja. Thank you: Scuderia West, MX1 West, Renazco Racing, RMS, Scott Whitney, Charlie Rauseo, SFMC Mike Shirley is an off road enthusiast from Reno, Nevada. Worked as assistance crew at the Dakar Rally for Jonah Street and the Rally PanAm Team in 2009 and 2010. He competed in Rally Mongolia in 2010, finished Vegas to Reno Ironman style in 2012. His first trip to Baja was this past April at the NORRA Mexican 1000 where he finished 10th overall. After exposure to the world of Cross Country Rally he saw a need to improve the process of creating Rally Roadbooks. He has been developing the Rally Navigator software since early 2012 and is very excited to provide roadbook software to the Baja Rally. |
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