The SCORE International Baja 500 began early Saturday in Ensenada, with motorcycles and quads starting the 487.52-mile race at 4 a.m. Pacific Time, officials said. The staggered start format and a minimum 4.5-hour gap before four-wheel vehicles ensured separation of two- and four-wheel traffic on the course, according to the event schedule.
The race features a single-loop course measuring 487.52 miles, starting and finishing in Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico, according to the official SCORE International event schedule for the 55th Baja 500. SCORE officials said the staggered start format spaces Pro Moto Unlimited riders at 60-second intervals and most other motorcycle and quad classes at 30-second intervals to manage on-course traffic and safety.
The course begins adjacent to the Riviera del Pacífico Cultural Center on Blvd. Costero, which also serves as the hub for pre-race activities including racer registration, technical inspections, and the installation of tracking devices.
A minimum 4.5-hour gap between the motorcycle and quad start at 4 a.m. Pacific Time and the four-wheel vehicle start at 8 a.m. Pacific Time ensures separation of two- and four-wheel traffic, according to the event schedule. The staggered starts and elapsed-time scoring system rank competitors by total time rather than position on the course, officials explained. Live tracking and timing are managed through the SCORE system, with real-time monitoring available from the Ensenada start line through the entire loop.
The event is part of the SCORE World Desert Championship and serves as Round 2 of the four-race series. SCORE officials reported that the 55th Baja 500 race week runs from May 31 through June 4, with registration and technical inspections held Wednesday through Friday. Contingency and Manufacturer’s Midway events are scheduled Thursday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. along Blvd. Costero near the start/finish area. Entries for the race include Pro and Sportsman classes for motorcycles and quads, such as Pro Moto Unlimited, Pro Moto Limited, Pro Moto 40/50, Sportsman Moto, Pro Quad, and Sportsman Quad, according to the SCORE rulebook.
Race records show that previous editions of the Baja 500 have featured over 200 official starters across all vehicle types, with a typical finishing rate near 70 percent. The 55th Baja 500 is expected to draw more than 300 entries from 30 U.S. states and 20 countries, according to SCORE projections. Starting order within each class is determined by results from the prior SCORE San Felipe 250 race, provided that entries and fees are submitted by the specified deadline.
The start line ceremonies for motorcycles and quads began at 3:30 a.m. Pacific Time Saturday, followed by the official race start at 4 a.m., sources confirmed. The four-wheel vehicles, including cars, trucks, and UTVs, are scheduled to start later in the morning. SCORE’s live-streaming schedule lists these start times and provides separate coverage for the moto and quad segment, emphasizing the distinct nature of the two- and four-wheel starts.
The course layout varies slightly from year to year; for example, a 2016 SCORE release cited a 477.51-mile course, while the current official distance is 487.52 miles. No official documents reviewed confirm a 468.70-mile distance, indicating that figure is not part of the current event’s official measurements. Pre-running for the 2023 race began at race mile 33.78, with special access windows for the early miles, according to SCORE’s pre-running bulletin.
SCORE mandates the use of Stella or equivalent tracking and safety devices, which are installed in the start/finish compound at the Riviera del Pacífico. This requirement applies to all motorcycles, quads, and four-wheel vehicles for timing and safety purposes. Unofficial finisher lists for all classes are expected to be posted between 4 p.m. and midnight on race day at the Riviera’s Salon Rojo, with final results and the awards ceremony scheduled for noon Sunday in the Riviera’s Cathedral Room or an equivalent venue.
The Baja 500 is widely recognized as a premier off-road desert race, with the city of Ensenada serving as the operational and ceremonial center. SCORE officials designate Ensenada as the “Off-Road Capital of the World,” underscoring its longstanding role as host city for the event and related activities.
