KTM Baja 1000 Team Effort Photo Gallery

KTM has become a well-known brand in the off-road world, but the manufacturer has yet to win a SCORE Baja event. Now, there comes a team who seeks to change that.

Our desert contributor, Chilly White, offers an in-depth look at KTM's attempt to create a winning Baja 1000 team. Check out the full story in our KTM Baja 1000 Team Effort feature.

(from left to right): Anthony DiBasillo (mechanic), David Pearson, Shane Esposito and Sarge (the motor builder).

Shane Esposito: "I want to beat Honda, but it’s not a revenge thing--it’s just so I can go down and say I won the 1000. I’m getting up there [in years (he’s 37)] so this is going to be one of my last chances."

David Pearson: "I like racing best in the desert and SCORE. It’s not really what I grew up racing, but it’s what I grew up kind of liking--I like the fast roads and I like the sketchy whoops that everybody else thinks are sketchy. They are sketchy, but I’m used to them and I’m good at riding them, so I like riding the SCORE series.”

During several of the 24-hour test sessions the team has addressed issues with oiling and cooling so the bike can run longer at cooler temperatures.

With the 2010 Baja 1000 just around the corner, it won't be long before this KTM dream team hits the dirt of Mexico.

Shane Esposito, aboard the Honda team, finished the 2009 Baja 1000 event in fourth.

Much of the testing has fallen into the hands of Mikey Childress, who's been at the forefront in developing the KTM 530 into a Baja bike.

Owner of Bonanza Plumbing, Dean Potts, has contributed vast resources into making a competitive Baja KTM squad.

Anthony DiBasillo hard at world prepping the KTM machine for battle.

A crew descended upon Bell Mountain with the goal of creating the perfect winning machine out of the 2010 KTM 530xcw.

David Pearson recently competed in the 2010 National Hare and Hound Championship, taking third overall.

David Pearson is just one of the riders on the dream team.