ENSENADA, Mexico — Juan Zunino, 28, a prominent motorcycle racer from Mendoza, Argentina, died Monday afternoon from injuries sustained when his motorcycle crashed in a one-vehicle accident while pre-running for this week’s 55th SCORE Baja 500 desert-race.
The race will start and finish in Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico, and the accident occurred at approximately race mile 132 near Cohabuzo, Mexico, in the central part of the Mexican State of Baja California.
Personnel from the Baja Pits organization were alerted by another pre-runner that a motorcycle rider was down approximately two miles from the pit manned by Baja Pits. He was pronounced dead at the scene with apparent severe head trauma.
“This was a tragic accident that took the life of Juan Zunino” stated Abelardo Grijalva, SCORE president and race director. “The details of the incident are still being investigated but all of us at SCORE are deeply saddened by the loss of one of our racers. Juan was just launching his SCORE racing career that started with his victory on our season-opening SCORE San Felipe 250 in April.”
Zunino, who also lived in Mendoza, Fla., was entered in the Pro Moto Ironman class for solo riders and he began his SCORE racing career by winning his class and finishing third overall among motorcycles in the season-opening SCORE San Felipe.