Nick Baugh has earned his spot as one of the best young pros in northern Nevada. After a devastating crash at Fernley a little over a year ago, Baugh persevered through a lengthy recovery and has now returned to his rightful status as a pro-class contender. Baugh is now looking toward the 2005 AMA nationals, where he hopes to put his Works Racing Development-backed KXF250 in the main events on a consistent basis. At round eight of the MX West Spring Series, Baugh demolished the very same Fernley course on which he crashed a year ago, showing no trace of hesitancy as he rode to a convincing win in the 250cc Pro class.

How did things go today?
It went pretty good. I just wish it was a better turnout, and I wish you were riding to push me and give me some more competition. But overall it went all right. You can’t ask for anything better than a 1-1.

Is this your first visit back to Fernley since your crash last year?
Yeah, it is. I’m actually glad that so few people showed up so I didn’t have to push it too much. But, yeah, this was the first time back.

Did you feel any hesitancy going down the back straight the first time today?
Not in practice, because it was smooth. But in the last moto I was going a little bit slower over it.

Remind us of the extent of your injuries from last year’s crash.
I broke my T6, T7, T8 (vertebrae) and my thoracic spine, which is in the middle of my spine. I had three surgeries, broke my hand, and messed up my face pretty good too.

That sounds so gnarly. You recently went down to Southern California to do some racing. How did that go?
It was good. The pace down there is completely different. Up here, I can be top-three most of the time, but down there I was lucky to make top-five. But it was good. I learned a lot, and I can’t wait to get back down there.

When will you be going there next?
In the middle of the nationals. I’m going to try to qualify for all of the nationals on this coast, and in the meantime I’m going to go down there for some experience.

So your goal is to make the field at some nationals.
Yeah, I hope so.

Will you be at Hangtown for the first one?
I’m going to do that one in the 125cc class on a KX250F modified by Works Racing and Development.

You were pretty much the only two-stroke in a field of 450s today. Do you feel you’re at a disadvantage at all?
At certain times I feel I am, but at certain times I feel I have an advantage because of the lightness and snappier throttle response. But the 450s definitely pull hard from the bottom.

You’re a former long-time Kawasaki guy who’s now on one again, so it must feel familiar.
Yeah, definitely. I love ‘em. You were once a Kawasaki guy too, traitor!(laughs)

You know I’m just going to edit that out (Ed. note: Oops.) I still have a soft spot for Kawis deep down, and your KX didn’t sound like it gave up anything today. Finally, you’ve been through a number of difficult injuries, but you always return and get faster. What is it that inspires you to come back and improve again?
Just having fun. Motocross is the best sport in the world. If I had my injuries in a car, people would still expect me to drive. I don’t know of anything better, and I think the risks I take are worth it. It points my life in the right direction.

Nick Baugh is sponsored by Works Racing and Development, O’Neal, Utopia, The Rider’s Edge, Monster Energy, Sign Designs, ASV, and EVS.