Cycle News Staff | October 15, 2024
Colton Udall won four of six stages to top the six-day Baja Rally, held September 29-October 5.
Colton defended attacks by 2023 Baja Rally Champion Mike Johnson after surviving the more than 1000 miles of the challenging off-road terrain that Baja California is known for.
Colton Udall won four of six stages en route to the Baja Rally win.
Racers in the tightly held elite RallyPro category chased Udall all week during his third appearance at Baja California’s only rally race for motorcycles, and he did so handily. While defending champions and podium standers fought over the scraps, Durban Racing’s Steve Varni made advances on podium regular Tony Palandrani. American Rally Originals’ Jim Pearson (P3 in RallyPro) kept his name near the top of the daily standings, while fellow Dakar Rally racer Ace Nilson struggled with mechanical issues and some get-offs that left their marks.
The 10th edition of Baja Rally was beset by unusually higher-than-normal temperatures, averaging more than 10 degrees Fahrenheit above normal. This phenomenon caused issues for racers in every category and set a serious tone for all of the racers from the onset. CN
OVERALL (Top 10)
- Colton Udall
- Mike Johnson
- Jim Pearson
- Tony Palandrani
- Steve Varni
- Juan Carlos Duarte
- Adolfo Alonso
- Lance Webb
- Rome Haloftis
- Digby Norris
- Jordan Strachan Reed
