AZOP Racing Round 1
Part of the 2025 AZOP Series!
Kim Krause (January 2025)The 2025 AZOP Racing Series kicked off in grand style on January 4-5 at Shorty’s Sports Park in Blythe, AZ. The venue, nestled in the heart of the desert, is a top-tier location for off-road racing, known for its diverse terrain and thrilling challenges. The racecourse stretched 4 miles long, offering an exciting mix of obstacles and fast stretches. With 500 racers competing over the weekend and approximately 1,000 spectators cheering them on, this event was a spectacular start to the new season.
Diverse Race Classes
The weekend featured a range of exciting race classes, showcasing the talent and determination of off-road racers from all ages and skill levels.
- Stacyc Classes: Young racers had their moment in the spotlight, with the 2-3, 4-5, and 6-7 year olds competing in these beginner-friendly classes. Zoey King was the overall winner in the Stacyc class on both Saturday and Sunday. There were 11 racers on Saturday and 10 on Sunday.
- PeeWee Bikes and PeeWee Quads: The overall winner for the PeeWee Bikes class both days was Logan Lewis, who dominated the field with impressive performances. There were about 40 racers in this class both days, thrilling the crowd with their skill and passion for racing.
- Mini Bikes and Mini Quads: Both days featured about 50 racers, showcasing the future of off-road racing in these younger classes.
- Big Quad Classes: These classes saw intense competition, as racers battled it out for the top spots.
- 3 Wheelers: A nostalgic class that continued to captivate spectators with unique, high-speed racing.
- UTV Classes: The UTV field featured about 30 racers on Saturday and 20 on Sunday, with competitors in 170, 250, 570, 1000 NA, Turbo, and Pro divisions.
- Pro Classes: Intense competition in both bike and quad classes, as the top racers pushed their limits.
- Men’s and Women’s Classes: Representing a broad spectrum of ages and skill levels, these classes provided exciting and competitive racing action.
Weekend Highlights
Pro Bike Class Results:
- Saturday: Nick Neys secured the win in the Pro Bike class, with 11 pros in the field, all gunning for the top spot.
- Sunday: Nick Neys continued his dominance in the Pro Bike class, despite a slightly smaller field of 8 pros.
Big Bike Class Results:
- Saturday: The Big Bike class saw 150 riders take to the 4-mile course, showcasing incredible speed and technique.
- Sunday: The field was slightly smaller, with 110 Big Bike riders on Sunday, but the competition was still fierce.
The weather was perfect throughout the weekend, with a little wind helping to manage the dust, creating ideal conditions for both racing and spectating. The diverse classes and strong competition made this round a thrilling start to the 2025 season.
Race Results
Full results for all classes are available on AZOPRacing.com.
Looking Ahead
The momentum continues with the upcoming AZOP 4-Hour Endurance Race and the Big Sandy GP:
- February 15, 2024: AZOP 4-Hour Endurance Race – Laughlin, Nevada (Team Race)
- February 22-23, 2024: Big Sandy GP – Wickiup, Arizona
The AZOP 4-Hour Endurance Race in Laughlin will be a team race, where participants will have to work together to tackle the grueling terrain and compete for the top honors.
Both events promise to be packed with excitement, offering even more opportunities to see top-tier racing action!
Thank you to all racers, families, and fans—approximately 1,000 spectators—who made this event such a success. We look forward to seeing you at the next round!