Robby Bells crash just 2 miles before his final hand-off of his 1x MONSTER BLUE C WAHOOS KAWASAKI most likely cost Penhall Motorsports the overall win at the 2009 BAJA 1000 and the man sounds determined to redeem himself if and when the opportunity arises next season.
The highly anticipated race started out with Bell gaining the outright lead by rm 11. By rm100 he had a 7 minute gap on the next bike. “It’s the best start I’ve ever had down there, Bell explained, “We were pulling time and I opened it up for Destry (Abbott) at Nuevo Junction. He pulled a few more minutes and gave it to Ryan (Penhall) at Borrego. Quinn (Cody) made some time up on Penhall in Matomi Wash, he has that place wired. I got back on at 305 and rode til 419”, but I had my crash at 417.:
Bell explained that the shadows were getting long and, on his way to San Matias at around 60mph, clipped a rock which sent him swapping to the left and to the right before he went in to the old tuck-n-roll. Still in the lead he got back up and struggled to get the bike restarted before handing off. The right hand side of the bars and the pipe were bent up pretty bad but the team left the bars as is.
Immediately at the finish line word spread among insiders that Bell had claimed responsibility for the team’s set back. Bell made it known that he would own up to his mistake and that kind of personal accountability would surely be welcomed by the Penhalls and Co.
“The last three nights I’ve woken up before dawn thinking about it. There’s no doubt if I hadn’t gone down we would’ve won the race. Its gonna haunt me for a while.”
When Bell announced his departure with HONDA a year ago, he said he’s accomplished all of his goals in BAJA but hinted at a possible return. After a stellar start in this BAJA 1000 and his accepting responsibility for his crash, Robby Bell is showing the kind of class act maturity required for championship level motorsports.
When asked if he’d be hoping to get another shot with KAWI in BAJA next season, he’d didn’t think twice, “Absolutely, after this race, it seems like I have some unfinished business down there.”
Reported By Scotty Breauxman
