The Baja 1000, a legendary rally-raid that takes place on the Californian peninsula between Mexico and the United States, is known for its demanding terrain and challenging conditions. While most participants are professional racers equipped with extensively prepared race vehicles and large support teams, one man decided to take on the challenge in a different way. Dutchman, Van Dijk, who is currently living in Australia, accompanied by his friend Shane Moss, set out to tackle the Baja in its purest form – a solo ride of 2092 km in the Pro Moto Ironman category, without GPS, and with a second-hand bike that was in desperate need of some TLC.
“It was six months ago,” Van Dijk explains, recalling the birth of the idea. His friend Moss, who had already participated in the event in 2019, threw down the gauntlet: “Why don’t you do it Ironman if you can? Do you think you can do it?” Van Dijk, who has a solid background in off-road riding and has participated in many long-distance races such as the Red Bull Romaniacs, saw the Baja as a “fun” challenge.
With only a month of light preparation and no prior experience of the race, Van Dijk relied on advice from fellow riders on social media. He arrived in San Diego, where he found a second-hand KTM 500 EXC on Craigslist. Then, with his belongings packed in saddlebags, he crossed the Mexican border with his trusty sidekick Moss to reach the starting line in La Paz in the south of the Californian peninsula.
However, just before the start, fate threw them a curveball. The duo discovered that the bike’s subframe had cracked under the weight of their minimal equipment. They were denied the opportunity to start until repairs were made, and with the help of local welders and fellow riders, the bike was hastily fixed. Even the worn-out tires were replaced just in time, thanks to the kindness of others in the paddock.
To add to the madness, the race began in the dead of night. Van Dijk set off into total darkness, armed with only a map and a Stella tracking system provided by the event organizers, with no GPS. How did he fare? At the first checkpoint, 374 km in, he was leading in his category. And at the 599-mile mark, he was still in second place. An impressive feat, especially considering that Van Dijk had to show ingenuity in finding fuel stops, relying on local gas stations and consuming food shared by fellow riders along the way.
Van Dijk persevered and rode on. But, less than 150 km from the finish, his tracking system detached, causing him to fall while attempting to reattach it. Despite damaging the front wheel of the KTM, Van Dijk continued, dragging himself like a wounded animal, but not defeated. As word of Van Dijk’s improbable challenge spread, he encountered unexpected support and kindness during a pit stop. While his back was turned, his fellow riders repaired the wheel with cable ties as securely as possible.
Van Dijk managed to reach the finish line before the time ran out, with a total time of 48 hours, 27 minutes, and 3 seconds, including penalties. He finished seventh out of nine in his category, but was the only one to complete the race with almost no resources.
Van Dijk is now a legend of the Baja 1000. His journey is a testament to passion and determination. “It’s definitely a challenge, especially staying awake for so long,” he shares. “I’m happy to have succeeded in the end. Thanks to Shane for being there all the time. Without him, I probably wouldn’t have done it. I might not have even made it to the Baja.”
And so, this daring adventure of tackling the Baja 1000 on a used KTM without GPS will go down in history as a remarkable display of human resilience and spirit.