Road To Baja Complete
Jan 22, 2010
Radek Burkat (pinkbike.com developer) and Andrew Krynen (mountain biker) take on the most dangerous race in the world, the BAJA 1000. The two bikers traded in their pedals for a motor and challenged themselves to see how well two mountain bikers could do in the world of moto.
On the trip was long time mountain bike cinematographer Ambrose Weingart (CKD, Back in the saddle, etc) to film and put together a full one hour documentary this event. Support was by long time pinkbike photographer Russ Day, and pinkbike's Karl Burkat
(All 3 episodes inside)
On the trip was long time mountain bike cinematographer Ambrose Weingart (CKD, Back in the saddle, etc) to film and put together a full one hour documentary this event. Support was by long time pinkbike photographer Russ Day, and pinkbike's Karl Burkat
(All 3 episodes inside)
Road to Baja Episode 1
It was late 2008 when Radek Burkat and Andrew Krynen decided to run the legendary Baja 1000, a spontaneous idea conceived after watching Dana Brown's “Dust to Glory”. Andrew, with little more than a few enduro races in his pocket, and Radek, who had only crossed into moto from down hill mountain biking just a short year and a half earlier, saw the race as one of those notches in life's belt – something that you just have to go out and do.
Full Story of Episode 1
Radek wasn't exactly comfortable with the predicament he was in. He was out practicing by pre-running his last 200 mile leg of the race. It was cold, getting dark and the fog was rolling in on the west coast of of the Baja south of Ensenada. Ordinarily this wouldn't be a problem – except he had no jacket, his GPS had bounced out of it's mount and was laying somewhere out in the desert, and oh yeah, the bike had no lights.
Full Story of Episode 2
I was pulled over at the side of a dirt road in “downtown” Ojos Negros, townsfolk wandered past my door in the darkness as a gaggle of M-16 armed soldiers stood on the dimly lit street corner. I was just taking in the weird scene, observing a bizarre mix of people; some were just hanging around while others seemed to be walking with no particular destination in mind – I'm sure that I stood out and must of looked like I was parked there waiting for trouble. My drifting train of thought was interrupted as the satellite phone came to life with a green glow and an electronic warble.
Full Story of Episode 3
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| Road to Baja Team |
33 Comments
- + 0
Terrafire
(Feb 1, 2010 at 0:08)
That KTM is sex. Raw orange sex.
Omg I can't even watch this, it makes me want to ride mx again, I could start crying like a little girl. The teaser was very good though, not to mention the bikes
[Reply]
Awesome story guys! I haven't been on a dirt bike in almost 10 years, but after watching this I know it's only a matter of time before I get back on. This is what life is all about; pushing ourselves beyond our comfort and rising to the challenges that go beyond anything we have done before. Congratulations on the finish! Very well done!
"we're just two regular guys, going down to Mexico to race the baja 1000."
Completely false statement.
What I know of Radek, which is further confirmed by this, is that he is FAR from a regular guy.
Completely false statement.
What I know of Radek, which is further confirmed by this, is that he is FAR from a regular guy.
Awesome awesome awesome work yall. Most impressive riding and documentation. Congrats on the finish. The whole atmosphere reminds me of adventure racing, 24 hour mtb racing, etc. Yall are lucky to have that experience. Good work on making it happen!
Btw-you're gonna have to upgrade to that 690 for the rally!
Btw-you're gonna have to upgrade to that 690 for the rally!
i live on baja, and that race is insane, the dakar you run 200 miles for day, the baja, you race 1000 miles in one day!.. it's amazing, all the class of cars and motos.. really amazing race...
greatest right up and videos iv ever seen on this race. very motivating! makes me wanna take my bike and try!
great dream guys but you are just not ready. you dont have the experience nor skills yet. 1.5 years is not enough to do the HARDEST race in the world. mountain biking helps but not enough. my dad raced it two years ago and ended up dropping out 53 miles from the finish after his piston blew and the cylinder was destroyed. He trained hard every day riding 4 days a week in order to ride down there. so props for racing it, you have some huge balls, but you were just over your heads. no offense
How were we not ready? We went down with hardly any preparation, overcame a shitty luck, raced it with 2 people, hardly any support, and beat 90% of the vehicles in the race.
Tell your dad next time get a better bike and then he will finish no problem.
Tell your dad next time get a better bike and then he will finish no problem.
This wasn't a dream. This is a documentary of 2 guys RACING and FINISHING the Baja 1000. It is a tough race and anybody that races it should be prepared. Sounds like your Dad had some bad luck with his engine. Maybe riding a KTM would have helped...no offense
[Reply]
Dakar racers will tell you that the baja is more dangerous...listen to the Dakar racer guy on the front page. In the Dakar you never ride at night unless you are slow or lost. Dakar is a slower paced race because you have to make all the stages, navigate, go longer overall distances. Baja is balls out for 30 hours straight, non stop, and at night....it's a sprint where all the racers are pushing things much and therefore much more dangerous. The baja race is 1000 miles which is twice or more than a single stage at the dakar.
Not my quote, just a fact that a dakar racer will tell you. Each has it's challenges, and no doubt that the Dakar is tougher, but the risk is higher at the baja.
Not my quote, just a fact that a dakar racer will tell you. Each has it's challenges, and no doubt that the Dakar is tougher, but the risk is higher at the baja.
I'm glad to see this relationship between parties on 2 wheels bring us this new site. keep up the good work
try the red bull romaniacs. o and yes, my dad was riding a ktm. He was using a 525 just like you. He thinks it was the bore kit that ended up failing (they are known for weekness). And i didnt mean to tell you off or anything but 1.5 years of riding isnt quite enough to be overall ready for the 1000. props though, hopfully i will be like you and conquer my dream somday and race romaniacs and baja 1000
Our bore kit failed on the 525 as well. That's why we ended up racing my 450. BTW, I've been riding for 20 years...
The baja is weird. You can show up unprepared and race it, and finish and do well. You can prepare for years, and have a stupid mechanical and be out. I only had been riding for a short time at the time of the race, but in that 1.5 years i rode a lot, raced the local PN series, etc. Plus the years of mountain biking does not hurt either. The baja is not technical but you have to be comfortable at speed in order to be safe. I guess 1.5 years is enough in this case, because we did quite well...just watch the video. We finished in 18 hours.
What I learned is, the more you prepare, the more adversity and problems you can handle while still being able to get to the finish.
If you are unlucky, no amount or preparation will help. In the end you do it to have fun, and not win. We had no illusions of winning, just finishing.
At some point you just have to try it and stop thinking you have to prepare more
What I learned is, the more you prepare, the more adversity and problems you can handle while still being able to get to the finish.
If you are unlucky, no amount or preparation will help. In the end you do it to have fun, and not win. We had no illusions of winning, just finishing.
At some point you just have to try it and stop thinking you have to prepare more
Very Cool! Thanks for the film and the passion to ride, Let me know if you need another canadian rider next year.
Great job guys! I got chills watchin this, my heart started racing when you talked about the rumble of the trophy trucks. I liked the part when Mike Childress and his crew helped you out, it's like a big family out there. Mike's a class act, he and his Honda crew said they would help me out in any way even though I was riding a yellow bike(different race). What an experience, hope to see you guys there soon.
Good on you for taking on the Baja. Where are you located? We race class 5/1600 and are hoping to add a Bike and Quad for the 2010 B1K
check us out http://www.yoloracing.com/
Cheers
Ross
check us out http://www.yoloracing.com/
Cheers
Ross
Great "videos" these bring back so many memories. Because two friends and myself raced the 2006 Baja 500. My one friend how only rode a bike for one year, and myself how hadn't been on a bike for 20 year, and a bike and rode the same year before the race. Where we over our heads "hell yes" would I trade it, not a chance. But I don't think it could have been possible it wasn't for our friend from Arizona how talk use in to it on a pre run trip on the 05 500. He looked after the toughest part the race bike and the logistics. So my hat off, to you both great job. If you would like to read a little on our journey go to the start of this blog http://my.opera.com/BryanCox/blog/
what a finish guys! 18 hours was great! We ran it with four riders and were #201X. We prepaired for a year and still found that we had difficulty with a rider through the woops section. Slowed us down considerably and busted up the bike but we still finished 6th in our class. We're already preparing for the 2010 1000 with better knowledge and better stronger riders. Check out or site if you wish-rsenalracing.com Good luck guys, see ya at the next Baja!
We're already planning this next one so hope to see you there for sure! This year the plan is to race is solo. We prerode it a bit 2 months ago, so we're actually thinking of racing KTM 990s there in 2010. Basically 2 solo teams, each on a 990 adventurer! hahah, it'll be fun as hell.
just one more thing Radek, how come your face is always so clean? man I spit and blew dirt clods for days after my race.
haha, I didn't get stuck behind anyone for too long. The only guy that passed me was some dude on the salt flats but I could not do much about that as I was wide open and the old 450 just didn't have enough pull. I could not get out of 5th. Then the only other time was when I got passed by 2 trucks on the way back to the coast. I ended up just pulling over and watched them go by as that moment was so fearful. When it happened it wasn't too bad so I just kept ahead of the trucks. Had one truck behind me about 2 switch backs for about an hour...till the bike broke down. I think andrew had it worse as he started and the quads passed him a bunch.
Great videos and stories guys. Congrats on finishing the race and thanks for sharing. We were staying at the same hotel as you in Ensenada at least based on the photos it looks the same. Good luck in 2010!
Trent Kendall
www.kendallrace.com
Trent Kendall
www.kendallrace.com
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