Mud in Your Eye

Kawaski has assembled the Baja 1000 Dream Team - Team Blue C Wahoo’s Monster Energy Kawasaki. It’s a big mouthful of a team, but that’s exactly what they’ll be serving anyone who follows them in Baja, a mouthful of roost! For all intents and purposes, Kawasaki has been MIA from Baja on the factory level since Danny Hamel died tragically in 1995. This year we may once again see a big-bore Kawasaki dirt bike top the Baja 1000 results.

Bruce Penhall has put together a team of go-fast desert rats. Young veteran and reigning Baja 1000 champion, Robby Bell, made a big career move away from factory Honda this year to sign with Team Green and race a Northland Motorsports/Precision Concepts Kawasaki. Bell is at the heart of this team. What other current racer could Penhall find to make the effort stronger? How about five-time 1000 champ Steve Hengeveld, who also left Honda (and whose father owns Northand Motorsports in Flagstaff, Arizona, are you putting it together yet?). And while they’re at it, they went ahead and invited fellow off-roader and factory Monster Energy Kawasaki Hare and Hound champion, Destry Abbott.

Are you serious!!?

Those three alone would be enough, but Penhall’s sons, Ryan and Conner, will also don their desert racing gear and straddle a KX450F. Racers alone don’t make a successful Baja effort. It takes a lot of support before, during and after the race. Funding and pit support during the 673-mile loop will be critical. Pay attention and watch these guys. Could this spark the return of Kawasaki to Baja racing again? Is it a flash in the pan or will the tide once again start to turn green for another decade of Mexican dominance. If so then how will mighty Honda respond – return Kawi the favor by withering away - or throw on a Lucha Libre mask and fight back?

The 2009 Baja 1000 takes place Nov. 20 and will be televised on NBC Sports December 19, 2009 from 2-3p.m. ET.