Kurt Caselli's Last Ride
Desert Inhabitants
Brilliant stars and saguaro cactus fleck the Baja, Mexico, desert landscape, site of the Baja 1000 off-road race for the past 46 years.
Brilliant stars and saguaro cactus fleck the Baja, Mexico, desert landscape, site of the Baja 1000 off-road race for the past 46 years.
Start Your Engines
The day before the Baja 1000 race, Kurt Caselli finished first in qualifying, earning his KTM team a 2-minute head start over second-place team Honda.
The day before the Baja 1000 race, Kurt Caselli finished first in qualifying, earning his KTM team a 2-minute head start over second-place team Honda.
Final Tuneup
The afternoon before the race, Caselli and his mechanic, Anthony DiBasilio, put the final touches on the race bike at the shop of Ivan Ramirez's dad. Here, DiBasilio shows Caselli his tracking device.
The afternoon before the race, Caselli and his mechanic, Anthony DiBasilio, put the final touches on the race bike at the shop of Ivan Ramirez's dad. Here, DiBasilio shows Caselli his tracking device.
Lining Up
Having clocked the fastest qualifying time, Caselli was the first rider off the start line, pictured here, in Ensenada at 11 p.m. on Nov. 14.
Having clocked the fastest qualifying time, Caselli was the first rider off the start line, pictured here, in Ensenada at 11 p.m. on Nov. 14.
Night Rider
As KTM's rider of record, Caselli rode the first and last legs of the race for his team. He raced the first 200 miles through the night, with the aid of bright LED lights on the front of his bike and on top of his helmet.
As KTM's rider of record, Caselli rode the first and last legs of the race for his team. He raced the first 200 miles through the night, with the aid of bright LED lights on the front of his bike and on top of his helmet.
Kendall Norman
KTM's Kendall Norman raced the team's bike for the early morning leg on Nov. 15, from Mile 198 to 395. The sunrise was one even locals called one in a thousand.
KTM's Kendall Norman raced the team's bike for the early morning leg on Nov. 15, from Mile 198 to 395. The sunrise was one even locals called one in a thousand.
Mike Brown
Between two stretches raced by Ivan Ramirez, two-time X Games Enduro X champ Mike Brown, pictured here, raced the fourth leg of the race for KTM, handing the bike back to Ramirez 200 miles from the finish.
Between two stretches raced by Ivan Ramirez, two-time X Games Enduro X champ Mike Brown, pictured here, raced the fourth leg of the race for KTM, handing the bike back to Ramirez 200 miles from the finish.
Ivan Ramirez
Ensenada native Ivan Ramirez, who raced his first Baja 500 at age 14, prepares in the pit with help from the KTM team.
Ensenada native Ivan Ramirez, who raced his first Baja 500 at age 14, prepares in the pit with help from the KTM team.
Ramirez's Helmet Cam
A GoPro camera on Ivan Ramirez's helmet shows his view as he races toward the final exchange of the bike with Kurt Caselli.
A GoPro camera on Ivan Ramirez's helmet shows his view as he races toward the final exchange of the bike with Kurt Caselli.
Together In Baja
Before Ivan Ramirez arrived at Pit 15 to make the final exchange, Caselli posed for a photo with his fiance, Sarah White.
Before Ivan Ramirez arrived at Pit 15 to make the final exchange, Caselli posed for a photo with his fiance, Sarah White.
Final Exchange
Ivan Ramirez flies into the pit at Mile 779 to make the final exchange with Caselli (left). At this point, their team has a 1-minute unadjusted lead with 104 miles remaining in the race.
Ivan Ramirez flies into the pit at Mile 779 to make the final exchange with Caselli (left). At this point, their team has a 1-minute unadjusted lead with 104 miles remaining in the race.
The Final Handoff
Ivan Ramirez looked on as Caselli made a few final adjustments before hopping on the bike for the final leg of the race at Pit 15.
Ivan Ramirez looked on as Caselli made a few final adjustments before hopping on the bike for the final leg of the race at Pit 15.
At The Memorial
A week after the accident, a group of Caselli's friends and riding buddies drove to Mexico to visit the crash site and memorial. From left to right: Manny Ornelas, Donnie Durrer, Donny Emler Jr., Travis Clarke, Brian Jellig, Brett Saunders, Mike Banfield and son, Matt Dion, Daryl Ecklund and Bill Walton.
A week after the accident, a group of Caselli's friends and riding buddies drove to Mexico to visit the crash site and memorial. From left to right: Manny Ornelas, Donnie Durrer, Donny Emler Jr., Travis Clarke, Brian Jellig, Brett Saunders, Mike Banfield and son, Matt Dion, Daryl Ecklund and Bill Walton.
Ride In Peace
The memorial at the crash site was made by an employee of Ivan Ramirez's dad the night after the accident and placed at the site by Ramirez.
The memorial at the crash site was made by an employee of Ivan Ramirez's dad the night after the accident and placed at the site by Ramirez.
Kurt Caselli
Caselli, posing for a portrait outside the KTM shop in Baja on Nov. 14, the morning of race day.
Caselli, posing for a portrait outside the KTM shop in Baja on Nov. 14, the morning of race day.
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