Chasing a Dream, Riding for Zoey: The Women of 217X Take on the Baja 400

Four women. One race bike. A Baja finish they’ll always have together.

Cecilie Jonassen, Stephanie Pietz, Tori Mortensen, and Emma Dunn finished fourth in Sportsman Moto at the 2026 Baja 400, taking on the race with their own goals and a special dedication: riding in memory of Zoey Arizona Johnson, one of our Off-Road Vixens ambassadors.

We’re proud to celebrate these women for what they accomplished—and grateful that they carried Zoey’s memory with them.

For Cecilie, the road to Baja began in Denmark. She came to the United States to train with one goal in mind: competing in the Baja 1000. Racing the Baja 400 alongside Stephanie, Tori, and Emma marked an important step toward that dream—and an accomplishment worth celebrating in its own right.

At approximately 5:15 a.m., their race began. It would be late afternoon before their team reached the finish.

The Baja 400 demands sustained concentration and endurance across changing terrain. This year’s course included desert, mountains, rocky stretches, and technical sections around Baja California. Getting a motorcycle through that kind of race is an accomplishment worth respecting. Doing it as a team means each rider’s effort contributes to the same finish. Baja 400 race coverage

At approximately 5:52 p.m., 217X crossed the line. Their elapsed time was 12 hours and 36 minutes—the third fastest in Sportsman Moto before penalties. After penalties were applied, their official result was fourth in class. While questions remain about those penalties, the team’s determination and hard-earned finish deserve to be celebrated. SCORE’s official results

For our Off-Road Vixens family, the dedication to Zoey makes their accomplishment especially meaningful.

Zoey tragically lost her life in an accident on October 27, 2024. She was 23. Her family’s tribute remembers her love of dirt bikes, her close connection to her riding community, and the joy she brought to the people around her. She loved being outdoors and sharing life with the people she cared about. Remembering Zoey

Having her as part of our ambassador family is something we’ll always be thankful for. Seeing fellow riders honor her through a sport she loved means so much to us.

We asked Tori what her favorite part of the race was, and her response was extremely heartfelt. 

"Having Troy and Sam there and just hearing them talk about Zoey and how amazing she was, and seeing how much it meant to them that we were racing in her memory. It just made the whole experience that much more meaningful and memorable."

Cecilie, Stephanie, Tori, and Emma took on Baja to challenge themselves, to chase a dream, and honor Zoey along the way. Their fourth-place finish is something they’ll always share—a hard-earned accomplishment with a deeply personal meaning.

To the women of 217X: congratulations. You earned this moment. We hope you take the time to enjoy it and recognize what you accomplished together. Thank you for giving our community another group of women to cheer for, and for remembering Zoey along the way. We look forward to working with all of you in the future. 

Zoey, you remain part of the Off-Road Vixens family. Always.

Team names and dedication reported by BajaSos, with the post text supplied by Off-Road Vixens. Zoey’s ambassador connection supplied by Off-Road Vixens. Images provided by Tori Mortensen