Red Bull Motor Sports Racing

As initially reported earlier did Red Bull NOT win the Baja 1000 Trophy Truck race. On the morning of Wednesday, November 21, SCORE received a formal written protest from #97 BJ Baldwin against #21 Gustavo Vildosola, Jr. The protest contained a video and stated that the Vildosola team violated SCORE rules by pitting on the paved highway surface while the race vehicle was in motion within Speed Zone 4. This was the first time that SCORE had been made aware of any accusations against the #21 Vildosola team. A complete tracking review of the #21 race vehicle at the La Paz Finish Line yielded no course or speeding penalties. However, this type of pitting violation accusation cannot be identified or resolved using IRC tracking data.
So far, so good (or bad) pending on point of view.
The protest alleges that the #21 race vehicle performed a pit service on the highway in violation of SCORE rules within Speed Zone 4 on Highway 5 south of Puertecitos.A video indicates that a black pickup truck with two male occupants moved directly in front of the #21 race vehicle on the highway and one of the occupants crawled out the sliding rear window and into the open bed. This person reached out and made physical contact with the #21 race vehicle in order to manipulate the front lightbar by using both hands with the intention of adjusting it upward into the correct position. This person then attempted to adjust the lightbar upward with a metal leverage tool.


The #21 Vildosola race team responded to these allegations by stating that the black truck and its occupants were not associated with Vildosola Racing, but could have been fans trying to help out. (That statement is the beginning of Vildosolagate / Tavogate and a very poor statement form a Red Bull Team / Red Bull athlete - see video below).
The issue to be resolved is whether the #21 race vehicle received a pit service from the black truck occupants by allowing and accepting their actions. Receiving assistance from spectators, fans, locals, and other pit teams has always been a part of SCORE Baja racing, but such assistance must be performed within the rules.


SCORE believes the video provides sufficient evidence to conclude that the #21 race vehicle allowed, accepted and received a pit service on the highway. The SCORE rulebook defines a pit service as any service performed on the race vehicle. Therefore, attempting to adjust a lightbar is a pit service. The fact that the pit service in question may have been unsuccessful, and therefore accomplished nothing, is irrelevant.
Since the 2009 SCORE Baja 500, three competitors have been penalized 90 minutes each for pitting on the highway, so in accordance with this past precedent the #21 race team will be penalized 90 minutes. BJ "Ballistic" Baldwin declared 2012 Baja 1000 winner after first arrival team (Vildosola) got relegated to 8th position for rule violation (pit-service work on moving trophy truck in highway).


We as Red Bull fans like to see a Red Bull Team or athlete win. We are supporters of the brand cause we believe they are good for any sport they involved in, make it more interesting to watch and push the competition.
However, we as fans feel very much insulted! Does Red Bull athlete Tavo Vildosola think we are blind AND stupid? Tavo Vildosola gave the most ridicules lame and pathetic excuse we ever hear, period! One need not to be a off-road insider to see in that video what's going on.
"black truck and its occupants were not associated with Vildosola Racing" our arse. That is the most blatant lie ever dished out I hear. Red Bull or not - this is grad AA BS!!
We hope the Red Bull brand puts some distance between them and such pathetic statements!

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