PZR FEATURED IN THE ARAB TRIBUNE (AL)

The Tribune newspaper, of Arab, Alabama, featured a story this week on Project Zero Racing’s trip to the Baja 250. Check out some excerpts below!

SPORTS

Lacey’s Spring man races with world’s best in Mexico

By Skyla Freeman – Special to the Tribune
Wednesday, April 21, 2010 11:56 AM CDT

Bret Freeman, a Lacey’s Spring native and co-founder of the Auburn-based Project Zero Racing competed in his first race last month, the Mexican Baja 250.

An Iraq war veteran and former Marine who hasn’t lost his taste for adventure, Freeman raced his bike alongside other motocross riders, trophy trucks and ATVs on a course famed as one of the most difficult in the world.

The Baja 250 is a grueling cross-country competition that runs for 248 miles and up to 11 hours along the Baja Peninsula through desert, gullies, washes, cacti, boulders and the Peninsular Ranges.

Only one of two riders in the pro class to ride solo, Freeman traveled an impressive 168 miles before a wreck on rocky terrain dislocated his shoulder and flipped his bike three times.

(Bret Freeman gets ready to start a day of racing in the Baja 250. Photo special to the Tribune. Photo by Andrew Lord).

Despite losing feeling in his left arm and severe damage to the bike, Freeman managed to travel another four miles on the treacherous course, leaving the race at the next pit stop.

Although they didn’t make it to the finish line, the Project Zero Racing team is happy with the results.

“While we would have liked to finish completely, we are really pleased with our success,” Freeman says. “The other teams told us that this was the toughest course in the Baja series races, and we’re really proud to have made it this far our first time out.”

Also traveling to Mexico was Jim Rosen of Auburn, CEO and co-founder of Project Zero Racing. Rosen led a support team for the race that included Nathan Jackson of Huntsville and Andrew Lord of the United Kingdom.

The team traveled more than 2,000 miles from Alabama to Mexico for the competition….

Freeman rode in the Baja 250 with many notable racers, including the famous Robby Bell, pro-class 22 winner Colton Udall, and Robby Gordon of the NASCAR circuit. The team was sponsored for the race by the O’Neal MX, Smith Optics, and Twin Air companies….

To read the complete story, please CLICK HERE.

RACING THE BAJA 250: TEAM PZR’S STORY

In March 2010, Team Project Zero Racing travels from Auburn, AL to San Felipe, Mexico to compete in their first race, the MasterCraft Safety Tecate SCORE Baja 250. The Baja 250 is a grueling cross-country competition that runs for 248 miles and up to 11 hours along the Baja Peninsula through desert, gullies, washes, cacti, boulders, and the Peninsular mountain range. Rider Bret Freeman (#6x) will ride the race solo; Jim Rosen, Nathan Jackson, and Andrew Lord will provide support along the course.

Suiting up in the wee hours before the race:  Radio? Check. Water? Check. Courage to the sticking point? Check and check.

X marks the spot. The team makes final adjustments as they wait in the line-up near the start of the race. It’s one of the toughest race courses in the world, and the team knows that things may get rough. They don’t yet know how tough it will be.

The team PZR three amigos:  Nathan Jackson, Bret Freeman (6x), and Jim Rosen.

The line-up. PZR team rider Freeman (6x), waits to proceed to the start. The red arch visible in the background is the starting line. Just a few days before the race, the course was altered to include more milage – meaning the riders have very little warning about some of the terrain they’ll encounter. The time limit for the race is increased from 10 to 11 hours.

Revving up. Freeman is one of only two riders in the pro-class to run the race solo.

Class 22 (pro-class MX) moves to the starting line.  Bike 3x will be the first across the finish line, with Colton Udall winning the class.

Start your engines!

5 SECONDS AND COUNTING. Freeman waits for the green flag…

AND HE’S OFF!

Coming into the first checkpoint for a refuel, the course lined by excited spectators. 53.5 miles in, he’s already encountered some of the worst terrain in the race. Massive “whoops” (prolonged series of speedbumps) as high as 4 to 5 feet have built up in the soft sand from the continuous running of the trophy trucks in the days leading up to the race.

Fast and furious, the Honda pit crew refuels the PZR bike.

The support team refuels too…

Refuel successful, Freeman heads back out into the desert. He passes checkpoint one and two successfully. But at checkpoint three, he fails to show up in the expected time. The PZR team waits anxiously for nearly two hours, unaware that Freeman has had a serious crash just four miles short of the checkpoint. Knocked unconscious, he wakes up next to the course to find his radio broken, his shoulder dislocated, and the bike so badly damaged it won’t start. He has no way to communicate with the team, he’s running low on water, and he can’t feel anything in his left hand or arm.

The team knows something’s amiss:  Andrew Lord works with some of the Baja 250 crew (pictured), who put out a radio call for information on rider 6x to “the Weatherman,” the emergency broadcaster for the race. Even after Freeman is found, it will be several hours before 6x’s absence from the race will be correctly reported. The bike has flipped three times, stripping it of identifying insignia.

Freeman starts – and re-starts – the bike several times, eventually limping into checkpoint three with the important parts of the bike and one arm and two legs still intact. He has successfully completed 172.9 miles of the 248 mile race. Freeman asks his teammates if they think he can continue riding to the finish line, and they make a mental note to have his head as well as his arm examined as he’s carried away to the hospital in nearby San Felipe.

Later that evening, bandaged and imbibing Mexican colas, team PZR celebrates their awesome adventure, not too much the worse for wear. But it’s not all fun and games. They have another trip – and another race – to plan. The Baja 500 is in June. And they’ll be back for more.

Photos courtesy of Andrew Lord.

The Starting Line

We’ll have more media for you over the next few days, but here’s a quick look at the Project Zero Team’s start at the Baja 250! PZR chasers stand by while rider 6x, Bret Freeman, heads out fifth in line.

Waiting for the wave of the green flag:

And he’s off!

Coverage of the full start is occasionally available HERE; click on posted video of bikers to hear Bret announced.

Images:  Bajasafari.blogspot.com.

Race Update

UPDATE: Rider 6x, Bret Freeman, has been released from the hospital after receiving medical attention. Arm in a sling, but we’re pleased to report he’ll live. We’ll have the full story and some pics for you tomorrow. Thanks for all the thoughts and prayers you’ve sent our way!

UPDATE: We finally have word. This is coming in very late, but several hours ago rider 6x, Bret Freeman, was injured about 2/3 through the course and hospitalized. He continued on several miles to the next pit, driving with his uninjured arm, and sought medical attention. We are pleased to report that he’s in stable condition, and following x-rays, will be released. He has a severe shoulder injury and the team is with him. More updates as we get them!

UPDATE: We’re still waiting for Score International to post the motorcycles results. For some reason, this has been a major oversight this year. All other classes have been posted. News when we have it!

This from the live feed @ #Baja250: “Race tracking from the company that gets paid for results failed bigtime today. Computers crashed and public viewing crashed…we are on the story…”

UPDATE: We’re still without comms – not ideal. But current status is good:  Rider Bret Freeman, #6X, is still in the race and in good shape. There have been some serious incidents, including one truck wrecking into the crowd and causing serious injuries. We’ll have the full rundown this evening, complete with photos. Stay tuned!

UPDATE: First two bikes to finish were Colton 3x First Place and Bell 2x Second Place. Congrats guys! Word coming in of another biker down with a broken leg.

UPDATE: The first two bikes are in!!! The last class of sportsmen’s vehicles is still pushing off at the start line! Details as soon as we get them.

We have a media guy on the ground taking PZR video footage and photos, so we’ll have those posted this evening once the race is done.

EARLIER: According to one watcher down at the race, it’s “total mayhem.” Most of the entrants are now on the course, but it looks like the fastest motorcycles in the pro class may complete the race before the last vehicles have even left the start line (cars enter the race several hours after the bikes). In which case:  bikes will be trying to cross the finish/start line while there are still other vehicles there! It’s going to get interesting.

Damage so far includes several bikes out, and riders with broken collar bones, ankles, and ribs. The Red Cross is on hand to care for the wounded. Because we’re live-blogging from the U.S. and having some communications problems, we’re following right now via “The Weatherman,” Baja’s emergency channel. We haven’t heard anything about our rider Bret Freeman (6x), and in this case, no news is good news! He’s been on the road about 5 hours, and has a PZR ground crew working with him at the various pits.

Here’s a view of what the start/finish line looks like right now:  a mess.

Image, Baja Racing News Live.

MORE UPDATES TO COME

Race Day!

At 6:02:30 AM PST, Bret Freeman, racer number 6x, left the start line! He’s with the first group out the gate, Class 22.

Here’s the line-up:

CLASS 22 (11)
2x Robby Bell
3x Colton Udall
4x Ivan Ramirez
6x Bret Freeman
5x Ryan Penhall
7x Cory Evenson
1x Kendall Norman
9x Cameron Corfman
10x A.J. Stewart
11x Chad Hubbard
12x Chuck Neugebauer

Unfortunately, SCORE’s Tracking International made the decision not to individually track the motorcycles, so we’re catch as catch can with radio coverage. More as soon as we know it!

One Day More

Are you ready? We are! Tomorrow’s Race Day. Team PZR is psyched and ready to go. Today we’ll be doing final checks on all of our equipment, and completing registration and the technical inspection. Yesterday we had a great final pre-run and fine-tuned our gear. Here’s what’s coming:

SCHEDULE for March 13th, RACE DAY

6:02:30 AM PST Team PZR leaves the finish line, as part of class 22. Rider Bret Freeman, number 6x, will have 11 hours to complete the 248-mile course.

5:02 PM PST The race ends for class 22 riders.

Updates: Stay tuned here for continuous coverage of the Baja 250. We’ll keep you informed with info from the course, Bret’s progress, and links to live coverage online.

The Team: Rider 6x, Bret Freeman, will be riding the Baja solo as part of pro motorcycle class 22. Our awesome support team, Jim Rosene and Nathan Jackson, will be following him along the course, ready at pit stops with repairs and supplies.

The Course: The course this year starts at the San Felipe Arches, running through the upper Baja Peninsula, along the Sea of Cortez, and through three challening washes:  Matomi, Huatomote, and Chanate.

Yesterday’s final pre-run:  here’s Rider Bret Freeman (6x) eating up the miles.

Wish us luck!!! Leave Bret and the team a note in our guestbook or on the Facebook wall!

A Day in the Life

Another good day for team PZR. We began with a great pre-run, completing most of the backside of the course, and finished up with an excellent nacho and salmon chowder dinner. Meal of champions. Come along for our day!

First thing in the AM:  team PZR suits up for a day on the run. Jim Rosene makes sure the bike is ready to roll. Looks like it’s going to be a scorcher!

Next up:  running the bike. Rider Bret Freeman (number 6x) works his way along the course. Dusty enough? You bet. Imagine what it will be like with nearly 300 other riders.

Afternoon:  pausing under a very hot sun, Bret and Jim strategize over the course and conditions of the day. There are entries from 25 states, and nine countries.

Evening:  a little R&R for Nathan Jackson. Kite flying on the beach before dinner!

Coming next:  the final day of pre-running the course is today. Friday is registration, inspection, and final prep for the race on Saturday, March 13. Stay tuned!

Base Camp Baja

A special thank you to all the new friends of Project Zero Racing who are following on Facebook – you guys rock. Thanks for joining the team!

We’re pleased to report that base camp is set up, and we’ve completed a first day of successful test running on the bike. Rider Bret Freeman (6x) ran about 1/5 of the Baja 250 course in prep today, while teammates Jim Rosene and Nathan Jackson worked support. We’re chomping at the bit for Saturday, and in the meantime, surviving as best we can. Our base camp is only a few yards from the beach, so it’s really, really rough going, as you might imagine.

The views are awful too. Punishing.

But it’s mostly hard work. On the course, Bret Freeman approaches the Honda pit at the 34-mile marker.

Here the PZR Team takes a break at the 45-mile marker at the end of today’s pre-run. Left to right:  Bret Freeman, Jim Rosene, and Nathan Jackson.

More pre-run updates to come!

Ride fast, Team PZR

Muy Mexico

Team PZR is making our way across the border from Cali to Mexi (thanks to Score International this year for providing a special racer-only border crossing). We’re pumped to be here! The team is in Mexico to compete in the Baja 250, a cross-country desert race that lasts for nearly 250 miles. Bret Freeman (number 6X) will be riding. Click here to learn more about the race, and here to meet the team. And now for a preview of the course:  gorgeous views – and punishing desert. It’s going to be awesome!

Images: 1. score-international.com/gallery/index.aspx. 2. www.savebiogems.org. 3. elvincountry.com/travel/baja/page/2. 4. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baja_California_Desert.

Zero Visibility

The adventure is on! As Team Project Zero Racing makes its way to the Mexican border, the scenery never changes. All this desert driving is good practice for the upcoming Baja race (the 24th Annual MasterCraft SafetyTecate SCORE San Felipe 250 on March 13), as long as we can avoid the as-yet unmaterialized dust storms:

(In which case, you won’t see this sign.)

The fabled dust storms never appeared; in fact, the opposite happened. This evening, after a heavy rainstorm littered with hail, a beautiful rainbow appeared. A good omen? We think so.

Next stop: Cali.