Hatton enters Baja 1000

From Rally Raid Canada

Rally Raid Canada, in conjunction with Duncan Motorsports is entering the 2010 Baja 1000 for the first time.

Don Hatton has put together an all-Canadian team of experienced local riders from Vancouver Island looking to tackle the infamous Mexican off road race. Along with Hatton will be riders Nick Caldwell and Paul Gallagher, all from the Duncan area, and Marc Ebdrup from Nanaimo.

The 2010 Baja 1000 starts on Nov. 18 and will compete on the classic Ensenada to LaPaz peninsula course this year.

“I am really excited about this team,” Hatton said. “Enthusiasm is not an issue with these guys. Keeping them calmed down and focused on getting all the riders to the finishing line will be.”

The team will be riding a factory supplied Husaberg FE570 Enduro. Hatton’s race mechanic Bernie Wright, former chief mechanic for world champion Cyril Despres, is modifying it to suit the conditions found in the Mexican classic. Although powerful and reliable one of the biggest upgrades to the Husaberg will be an ancillary lighting system to allow the riders to see better in the darkness at high speeds.

Although the Baja race is a sprint race, where the top competitors can complete the course in about 18 hours, the logistics of providing fuel, mechanical services and rider support is as daunting as any of the longer Dakar style races.