This race has been something I've been wanting to do for awhile, and this year I decided to finally do it. Signed up with 2 other racing buddies to race 40 expert. Two of us race the WHS series and the other races motocross. We're racing a 23 KTM 450 sx, just because that what we have the most spare parts for. I know it would be better if we had something with a 6 speed, but I feel confident we will be okay speed wise once we get the gearing dialed in, still not sure on ratios but leaning towards 15/45. The bike will have a 3.5 gal tank, bibs, steering stabilizer and the usual offroad setup. For the people that have raced it, what are the key things we need to focus on to insure a finish and be competitive? Pit strategies, bike prep, things to carry on the bike/person, course conditions, ect? We will have 2 chase trucks so having someone at the pits shouldn't be a problem. Just trying to get as much prerace information as possible so that we're not unprepared.
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I was going to say check out www.race-deZert.com but it looks like you figured that out already.
It's an awesome race and I'm sure you with a be a great time. I raced it in 2010 with no prep on a Craigslist xr650r, iron Man, with no pit crew (Baja pits for gas) and got second place. You are already way ahead of me! All the info below is from that experience so may be out of date.
For gearing, it's a really high speed course and doesn't have anything technical. You'll want to be able to pull around 110mph to be competitive.
There are long whoop sections and rocky bits. It heats the suspension up a lot. In my experience on my newer 300 just pl ying around in the desert stock wp suspension can't handle long desert whoop runs at A speeds. I swapped to a traxx shock and it's been fine for my trail riding purposes. I haven't raced that bike through.
With bibs you'll need to change tires and wheels during the race. Plan on two changes, but you might get by with one.
Depending on where you start and end up relative to the pack you may need to change air filters a couple of times. I registered late and started last, came all the way through the pack, crashed, then came through the pack again. Dust was crazy and I had to change filters twice.
Oil your goggle foam to keep dust out of your eyes just like an air filter. I use baby oil.
The after party is awesome, plan to stay there for a couple of days for awards.
You might sign up for Baja pits in case you miss your crew for gas. Have a good idea of how far the bike will go at race pace and plan accordingly. You won't need to stop at every pit I think.
Rider prep is big--train as much as you can manage.
The course is varied, but time is mostly made up in whoops, silt, and rocks. Everyone competitive will be flat out on the lake beds and roads. Watch out for dips and bends on the roads. They can be hard to see and it's easy to miss a dip and turn and go straight off a cliff--not that I would know....
Trophy trucks are huge, way faster than you, and steer about like a boat. Stay ahead of them or get out of the way when they catch you. The bikes get a big head start so you may be able to stay ahead of them. I got passed by one shortly before the finish as I recall.
Most of all, have fun! It is a well run event with an amazing group of people.
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