Biography

Conquering the grueling 1,134-mile Baja 1000 in 2017, Jeff Benrud secured the Pro Moto Ironman championship after a relentless solo battle across the Baja Peninsula. Racing his Honda CRF450X, Benrud finished nearly an hour ahead of his nearest competitor in one of desert racing's most demanding classes, where only six of 19 starters managed to reach the finish line.

"It was brutal," Benrud reflected after his victory. "I was feeling really bad about halfway through, then I ate a bunch of food and felt better. I got a good shot of adrenaline the last 80 miles with all of the Mexicans cheering me on and I knew I was in the lead." The North Carolina native had previously crossed the finish line first in Pro Moto Ironman competition but been relegated by penalties, making his 2017 triumph particularly satisfying.

The Pro Moto Ironman class represents the ultimate test of endurance and skill in SCORE desert racing, requiring competitors to tackle the entire course solo on motorcycles. Benrud's championship performance against elite competition including Jose Armando Carrasco and Michael Skurkis solidified his reputation as one of the sport's most resilient and determined competitors.