Joey Evans has challenged lots of the world’s hardest off-road races from the Dakar Rally to the Africa Eco Race, although it was not a straightforward street to get there. Now, he needs so as to add the Baja 1000 to his résumé.
In 2007, whereas competing in an off-road race in his house nation of South Africa, Evans suffered an incomplete spinal twine harm when fell off his bike at first and was run over by the frenzy of fellow rivals. The accident resulted in paralysis from the chest down and fears that he would by no means have the ability to stroll once more. Regardless of the chances, he was using once more shortly after the flip of the last decade.
By 2013, he was doing cross-country rallies and getting himself again in form to pursue his goals of the Dakar Rally, one that may be realised in 2017; racing the #132 bike, Evans completed ninety-third general. Three years later, he tried his hand on the Africa Eco Race that adopted the Dakar’s unique Europe-to-Senegal route, the place he completed the race even after crashing right into a camel on the penultimate leg’s street part. He additionally has expertise as a rally navigator, working with Terence Marsh within the South African Rally-Raid Championship in 2018.
For the reason that Dakar, Evans works as a public speaker and is the creator of the bestselling e-book From Para to Dakar: Overcoming Paralysis and Conquering the Dakar Rally. He’s additionally an journey bike model ambassador for KTM.
With two main rallies out of the way in which, he now intends to deal with Baja for the primary time, using within the Professional Moto Ironman class for solo riders. The hassle shall be in partnership with the Adaptive Sports activities Fund, a nonprofit centered on serving to these with disabilities take part in sport; Evans will put the names of donors to his Baja 1000 fundraiser on his bike, although proceeds will go in the direction of the ASF whereas Evans pays for racing bills himself.
“I’m going to go and race the longest continuous off street race on this planet, the Baja 1000 held in Mexico, 1000 miles,” mentioned Evans in a video posted on social media. “I’m going to be racing within the Ironman class, so doing the entire thing solo. As a part of my marketing campaign going ahead, there’s going to be two sides to it: the primary aspect is I’m going to cowl numerous the prices myself, however together with that, I’d like it if any corporates wished to companion with me. That will be nice, hit me up, let’s join.
“However for those who’re a person and also you’d wish to assist, I’d love to do one thing slightly totally different to what I did once I once I raced Dakar. If you happen to bear in mind Dakar, I put names on my bike of everybody who had donated. This time, I might like it for those who donated that cash to the Adaptive Sports activities Fund. It’s a enjoyable setup to assist guys with spinal twine accidents to have the ability to take part in excessive sports activities. If you happen to donate to Adaptive Sports activities Fund, I don’t care how a lot I’ll put your title on my bike.”
The fundraiser may be discovered right here. As of this text’s publication, it has raised over eleven thousand rand (over €554).
Set for 12–17 November, the Baja 1000 is the ultimate race of the 2024 SCORE Worldwide season. 9 of twenty-seven riders accomplished the 2023 version in Professional Moto Ironman.
