6 minute read
THE SONORA RALLY
THE 2020 SONORA RALLY
WORDS: WENDY WOHLFORD PHOTOS: MIGUEL SANTANA, STEVE GREEN, JUSTIN W. COFFEY
THE 2020 SONORA RALLY
A DAKAR STYLE ADVENTURE IN MEXICO
Mexico has everything an off-road racer could want. Vast sand dunes, wide open desert, sandy beaches, and treacherous rocky mountain terrain. Sonora, Mexico is not just a destination for a relaxing vacation, it is also where off-road racers and enthusiasts come to conquer the Sonora Rally. The goal is to prove their skills. Winners can earn a spot in the 2020 Rallye du Maroc or even the prestigious 2021 Dakar Rally. The variety of adrenaline pumping terrain is what has brought some of the best Moto and UTV racers in the industry back for the 6th annual Yokohama Sonora Rally. This year’s Sonora Rally started for the first time in the Sonoran capitol of Hermosillo and promised to take racers through a grueling course of hills, valleys, sand and rock, and even venturing into ancient backcountry communities. There was no prerunning, no premarked courses, no GPS, and no chase support other than what was provided in the bivouacs by the rally staff. In true rally fashion, this was a bare minimum technology race that off-road racers eagerly jumped at. The Sonora Rally is a diverse rally in that there is something for everyone. You have the Moto class, UTVs, the car/truck class and the unique Adventure Raid. The Adventure Raid is a novice’s way of experiencing the rally and learning to use the roadbooks, but with the help of an experienced guide. The Adventure Raid included seven participants with Wes VanNieuwenhuise in his KTM 790 from the Adventure Class landing fourth in the overall results. This year’s Sonora Rally would also include the first ever American Dakar Rally winner for the Moto class, Ricky Brabec.
The Sonora Rally is divided into five Special Stages over a week. On day one after leaving the capitol of Hermosillo, racers made their way through the desert valley liaison portion and arrived at the steep and unforgiving mountainous terrain that would be their course for Special Stage one. After navigating through the boulders, narrow trails and sharp turns, racers were met with an unplanned water ride at the end of the course when the normally mundane wash that crossed through the route was turned into a full-on river from recent rainfall. Day one ended in Banamichi with Skyler Howes taking the lead in the moto class and Colton Udall following close behind. In the UTV class, Luis Pelayo took the lead with Sara Price and navigator Kellon Walch in second place. Walch has previous experience as a Team Dakar USA/Speed Energy navigator for Robby Gordon and BJ Baldwin in recent
years and has also navigated for Gordon in the Baja 1000. Day two of the rally had an unexpected turn of events when the recent rain storms prompted the need to adjust the course and reduce mileage. It started with rocky and muddy mountain paths and ended with fasterpaced terrain through the desolate ranchroads and free-roaming cattle country of Caborca. Ricky Brabec slid into the number one spot in the Moto class, pushing Skyler Howes into second. Howes managed to hold on to the overall lead. Dave Sykes and Scott Steinberger took first place in Stage two with Nick Bruce coming in close behind. Scott Steinberger is the son in of the infamous Bob Steinberger, the original “Weatherman”. Luis Pelayo kept the top spot in the overall rankings with Sara Price holding on in second.
Weather once again prompted the need to make course adjustments and remove the latter portion of the day three course, which was supposed to reach the Sea of Cortez. Even with adjustments, some racers were still met with rain at the start and left with slick ground in other parts of the course. Once racers navigated through the wild and winding desert, complete with plenty of poisonous cactus, they were met with the costal sand dunes that would make up the latter part of day three and most of day four as they traveled from Puerto Penasco to San Luis Rio Colorado.
The battle heated up between Howes and Brabec. Howes regained the lead in day three. Brabec took it back in day four. Howes managed to stay on top of the overall standings for both days. With Luis Pelayo receiving penalties that knocked him into fourth place, the UTV class saw a lead change for round three with Sara Price moving into number one for day three and Oscar Ramirez in at the number two spot. Price finished day three in the number one overall place with Pelayo in second. Stage four results had Nick Bruce in first for that round with PJ Jones in second. Overall results for day four place Price in first and Ramirez in second.
The final day of the rally was a loop course in San Luis Rio Colorado. Racers navigated through flood plains, washes, large sand dunes, and a lake bed, all of which were affected by recent storms. The plains were flooded, the washes were muddy and the dunes were some of the biggest and best that North America has to offer. Many of the types of elements and terrains that racers experienced throughout the rally were purposely revisited so that this would be a demanding final day, but also a day where racers would have an opportunity to fight their way to that desired number one spot. The 2020 Sonora Rally saw some intense battles in both the Moto and the UTV classes. Ricky Brabec, the 2019 Sonora winner and Skyler Howes, the 2018 Sonora champion,
kept the pressure on each other in every stage. By stage 5, Brabec was able to regain the lead and come in just above Howes making Brabec the overall winner for the Moto class. Colton Udall, who finished 6th overall, walked away with the Road to Dakar win and free entry into the 2021 Dakar Rally. The UTV class saw Nick Bruce win the fifth round with Sara Price taking second place. The overall Champion for the UTV class, however, was Luis Pelayo with Price placing a close second, despite suffering setbacks ranging from running out of gas, hitting a cow on day two and needing an engine swap on day four. Pelayo is also the winner of the Challenge Rallye du Maroc and will get free entry into this year’s event.
