Building up to King of the Hammers 2025 - Part 1

Three weeks from now one of the world’s largest, annual, off road racing events will open its gates. Hammertown will appear like a high desert mirage, springing up from a dry lakebed in Johnson Valley, CA, welcoming new and returning residents. From race rookies to our reigning and former Kings of the Desert, Hammertown will be their home during each week of competition.

Commencing with King of the Motos, 500 competitors will tackle world-class hard enduro trails that will push every rider and bike to their physical, mental and mechanical limit. While 500 have registered, those who will see the checkered flag on Day 2 is likely to be less than 10% of the hopefuls who line up on the starting grid. A staggering amount will fail to qualify for race day 2, and only those who have an impeccable race on day 2 will be able to complete all four laps within the six hour time limit.

The course has been carefully designed by Justin Leineweber, Race Director and Johnson Valley local. Since the moment the race ended in 2024, Justin has mulled over those results, taken on board competitor feedback, and thought about the 2025 race. Some trails are well known and also raced on by cars, while some trails will be brand new. Either ridges, valleys or canyons discovered by Justin when out exploring or first identified on maps before a trail was attempted or made.

King of the Motos is always extremely challenging, with the 90% who know they will not see the finish line setting goals such as finishing the first or second lap. There will be manufacturer-backed race teams and privateers, much like the desert and rock racing teams who compete in the second and third week.

~~~Jack will make his King of the Motos debut, supported by the TM team~~

The Desert Challenge sees an influx of teams and spectators to Hammertown, with pre-running commencing mid-week, before qualifying on the Friday. Armed with the course map, Drivers and Navigators head out to make their own notes and plan for race day. Those who heed the call of the Desert Challenge race in almost every kind of desert race car - from the glamorous Trophy Truck, to buggys powered by air-cooled Volkswagen engines, an array of side-by-sides, and highly or mildly modified 4X4s – just to name a few.

This range of vehicle classes is divided into two groups of racers at King of the Hammers. The Unlimited class and the Limited class will run their races on the same course but on different days, the separation is based primarily on vehicle size and capability, aiming to make the race safe for all competitors.  

All vehicles must attempt Qualifying, a 10-mile lap that gives racers a taste of the different race day terrains, these results are then used to determine Starting Order for race day. In previous years, winners were the teams whose qualifying and race day times added up to be the quickest. In 2025, qualifying time will not be added to race day time, it will be interesting to see how this plays out. Thanks to a passionate and professional team of camera and drone operators, a production crew, plus access to live onboard cameras, spectators will be able to catch plenty of action from across the entire course via the livestream.

~~~Bailey will be racing in the Limited Desert Challenge, driving a single seat Polaris RS1~~~

The Desert Challenge weekend will see the Limited Classes Qualify on Friday and race on Saturday, while the Unlimited Classes will Qualify on Saturday and race on Sunday, the action packed weekend will wrap up with the Class 11 Race. A Class 11 is an almost stock Volkswagen Beetle, fitted with a role cage, and the normal race accoutrements. Everything else – engine, suspension, body panels, windows, transmission – remains stock. Many Class 11 teams style their Class 11 with eye-catching paint jobs and sometimes even a surfboard or a cooler on the roof racks!

~~Don’t miss their antics in the short course!~~