San Diego, CA – January 31, 2019 – SLR Honda announces its team riders and race plan forthe 2019 season with determination to dominate this years’ desert races. Lead by Baja Champion Mark Samuels, the teams racing efforts will be focused on the U.S. West Coast and Mexico events. SLR Honda is currently committed to the WORCs Grand Prix Series, SonoraRally, select Best In the Desert races, as well as their exciting return to Baja’s SCORE International Series
Team owner Mark Samuels and his teammates, Justin Morgan and Justin Jones, wrapped up their championship at the 51st edition of the SCORE International Series in November of 2018. Returning this year with the No. 1x plate and the new Honda CRF450X, they are sure to prevail against their competition.
“I am very excited for the 2019 season. I have been working very hard for the last 5 years to keep growing the team in every aspect and couldn’t be more honored to continue with the Honda family and with the lineup of riders we have. We have a lot of big things happening and we’re excited to reveal it as the racing season begins.”
Mark Samuels, Team Owner
The SCORE International series will open in April 2019 at the San Felipe 250 and close in November of that year at the 52nd SCORE Baja 1000. In addition, SLR Honda will compete in Mexico’s Sonora Rally this coming March.
Team riders of Ricky Dietrich and Tallon Lafountaine will be representing the SLR Honda team in this year’s WORCs series. Dietrich is a defending 2006 WORCs champion that will be returning in the pro class and racing the new Honda CRF450RX. LaFountaine, a former promotocross racer, will be competing in the pro 2 class on the new Honda CRF250RX. The series launched on January 20, 2019, in Primm, Nevada where Lafountaine took home 2nd place to set the pace for the rest of the season.
“It’s been a long and tough return to racing at the top level again for me. It took all of 2018 for me to physically and mentally return to a competitive state. I feel things happen for a reason and I’m just hoping my hard work pays off and 2019 is my year to win multiple races and contend for the championship.”
Ricky Dietrich WORCs Competitor
With increased support from American Honda, the team is thrilled to represent the Ride Red program this year with hopes to continue progressing as a top desert off-road team. “We’re very excited to have SLR Honda in the family for their fourth season of racing,” said Brandon Wilson, Manager of Advertising & Motorcycle Sports at American Honda. “On the heels of their Baja 1000 success, we look forward to watching them compete on the new CRF450X, CRF450RX and CRF250RX in 2019 WORCS, SCORE, BITD and select rounds of the Big6 National Grand Prix Championship.”
ABOUT SLR HONDA
SLR Honda is a professional off-road race team owned by Mark Samuels and based out of Yucca Valley, California. The team consists of 5 riders who will be competing in select desertraces in this 2019 season. For more information on SLR Honda, please visit the website of www.slrhonda.com
Presented by SLR Honda, Written by Makenna Sekeres
