At the Baja 1000, Trophy Truck starting positions are determined by a 5 mile time trial. The guy that finishes quickest gets to start first. It’s pretty simple. The Trophy Truck teams usually spend a fair amount of time out in the desert testing new trucks, new engines, new shocks, etc, but this is the first time that they are actually competing during Baja. Sure it’s on 5 miles, but these guys are treating it like it’s the 1000 itself, because starting position is not only grounds for bragging rights, but also for strategy. Get out early and you’ve got clean relatively dust free air conditions in front of you.
The 5 mile course is pretty representative of the conditions racers will see out on the full 1000 mile course, but condensed. There are high speed flat out whoops, washes, jumps, tight twists and turns and washouts. All of it soaked up like butter from the incredible suspension on these awesome beasts.
Click play to watch. It will make you want a high speed off road truck.