Ensenada, Baja, Mexico
May 3, 2026
Competitors tackled 148 miles of special stages, backed by 37 miles of transit, totaling 186.1 miles on the day. Fast, technical, and dust-filled in all the right ways, it was a proper Baja opener where strategy mattered, clean air was everything, and the terrain kept everyone honest.
Leading the charge in the 6100 class was Ryan Arciero, who put together a smart, calculated run to take the top spot on the day.
Ryan Arciero (P1 – 6100):
“Today went great for us. We played the starts strategically to create some clean air and just kept pushing. Got into some dust early and gave up a little, but nothing that hurt us too bad. The 1Nine truck was solid all day with no issues, just putting in miles while we test some new race trim on the 32. NORRA is one of my favorite races, and we’re on some of the best tracks Baja has to offer. Looking forward to the next five days.”
In the SXS ranks, Kristen Matlock and her husband Wayne set the pace early, sharing driving duties and coming away with the overall UTV win on day one.
Kristen Matlock (P1 – SXS Overall):
“Wayne and I had a blast sharing driving duties today and we’re stoked to come away with the overall UTV win. Looking forward to five more days of racing, great competition, and making memories with our team.”
Day one delivered exactly what Baja is known for—speed, grit, and just enough chaos to keep it interesting. And with five days still to go, this rally is just getting warmed up.
#itsbetterinbaja
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Photos: Trackside Photo
