Miguel “Mike” Ley, who won back-to-back SCORE International Class 5 Unlimited championships as a co-driver with Eli Yee, died Monday.

According to a report from Podio Media, he was killed in an accident in Ensenada near El Mosquito.

“Today, we have to say goodbye to you, and it’s a pain we never imagined we’d feel,” wrote Yee. “Thank you for every mile we traveled together, for every conversation, every laugh, every lesson, even for your scolding when we made a mistake. Today, we move forward, but we carry your spirit with us every step of the way.

“Rest in peace, Mike. This team will always remember you with pride.”

Ley previously raced in SCORE on a bike before teaming up with Yee, the duo going on to win the Class 5 Unlimited titles in 2023 and 2024. They were the only team in the class to run all four races in 2023, winning it at the San Felipe 250, Baja 500, and Baja 400 to seal it by 167 points.

In 2024, their #500 competed against the #510 of Gerardo Ibarra as the lone full-time entries. The team won Class 5 in the first three races again before finishing second to Trey Hernquist at the Baja 1000. Still, they secured their second straight championship with 454 points to Ibarra’s 229.

He was also a member of Bibi Ayala Racing, who competes in Class 10 in the Record Off-road Series with Jesús Ayala.

A statement from SCORE described Ley as a “born off-road champion” and concludes, “He is now racing through the heavenly deserts, and we pray for his eternal rest.”

Featured image credit: Eli Yee Motorsports