The circuit where the prologue of the cars was raced was fast and spectacular The great motoring event started with momentum with the wind in its sails. At the Ariete Observatory it seemed to be at the Bastiani Fortress in the desert of the Tartars, with the cavalry deployed and all ready to attack. Dust, a lot of dust on the very fast track of the first two selective sectors for motorcycles and the prologue for cars. Blame for two and a half months of dryness. Already the motorbikes alone were able to raise the gigantic eddies of stones and sand, the quads have increased the fog effect, besides all traveling very close, one after the other, and to conclude the cars and the only truck competed to see who is hid more after each break. However, a guaranteed show for the many fans who have taken a afternoon of freedom to attend the Italian Baja appetizer, which between today and tomorrow will serve the best dishes during the first and second stage.
Also nice is the glance of the tent city around the Observatory. All the vehicles in the race will spend the night here, in the park closed, after having made assistance. Guarded by the marshals, who will camp according to established habit night owl of these nice motor sports volunteers. And you can be sure that more than a few pilots or centaurs will stay on site with the camper, saving on logistics and on the hotel. Because it is certainly not all gold that glitters in tout terrain, but there is also a lot of simplicity and a genuine desire for adventure, combined with "deflated" wallets. Then, of course, the eye lingers on the Mitsubishi "stand", which shows the muscles of competitive marketing even in impeccable mechanics uniforms. And we understand the distance between an official squadron and other teams, however important and blazoned. But the Italian Baja is not the fair of vanities, among the competitors there is the camaraderie that can give living together emotions of a sport.
Starting first, as mentioned, the bikes. Unleashed Franco Dal Bello (Honda Hm 450, n. 3), who immediately wants to prove himself to be able to fight for the record and set the best time in both heats. The centaur from Pordenone got behind Enzo Manenti (Husqvarna Te 400, n.41) at the end of the first 2 laps, and then the favorite Matteo Graziani (Ktm 525, n.1). A ranking that sees Dal Bello in the lead, with 10 "ahead of Graziani and 12" over Manenti.
But the long race could reshuffle the values on the field: Saturday two selective sectors of 130 km each (starts at 10 and 13.30) and on Sunday a selective sector of 105 km (departure 7.30) followed by the short super special of 8 km. Very fast Angelo Montico with the quad, also the flag, of the fierce competitors from Pordenone. Finally, the cars, colorful and spectacular as never before. The specialty has grown, the experimentation of lines, structures, engines and the desire to amaze triumphs. Some vehicles make more noise than street, but perhaps it is the merciless eye of the reporter, who does not have the stopwatch at hand. And he is still fascinated by the desire everyone has to "keep down" the foot. Masuoka and Peterhansel were only one second behind on trial; the Portuguese Carlos Sousa trailed by 12 seconds. The two official Mitsubishis in pole position today Predictions respected in the car prologue to the Italian Baja.
The fastest was the Japanese Hiroshi Masuoka (already winner of the Dakar in January) in a Mitsubishi Pajero Evolution who stopped the clock on a time of 5'33 "to complete the only lap of 7 km. Only one second faster than his teammate. Stephane Peterhansel on the team with the other official Pajero. Minimum gap, just 12 ", also for the Portuguese Carlos Sousa, on the third official Mitsubishi, but in the Strakar version. Net domination of the House of the three diamonds, but Gregoire De Mevius with the BMW X5 finished in 5'46 "and if we calculate that the Belgian missed the parftenza and had to maneuver at the first corner, it is clear that perhaps the best time could even be his. Fifth place for Al Mutawei, from the Arab Emirates, in a Nissan Pick up which aroused a great impression of power and agility, while Luc Alphand was sixth, also in a BMW. Behind him the first of the two Tarek Volkswagen buggy, that of Jutta Kleinschmidt, with an elongated shape and, to be honest, a little clumsy. To find the first Italian you have to go down to the tenth place occupied by former rally driver Marco Tempestini on a Nissan pick up of the Promotech team who managed to finish with a time of 6'03 ". Behind him the 2002 Italian champion Marco Auteri on Pajero Evolution RalliArt, eleventh and 11 seconds behind Tempestini.
However, the prologue only served to outline the starting grid for the first stage and to warm up the engines of the protagonists. Once the asbestos obstacle has been overcome, now the real race starts after the prologue.
Buggy: Schlesser is missing, but there are the two Volkswagens of Jutta Kleinschmidt and Stephane Henrard, a show of agility and power.
Club. 375 are the men of the organization organized by the Off-road Club 4x4, a small army to make everything work a must. Women. As many as ever this year, both behind the wheel and in the right seat. And we mention "our" blonde Sandra Castellani alongside Antonio Manfrinato (Suzuki Grand Vitara n. 215). Helicopters. How much Tavella likes to fly over there "his" race and command "his" army from above. Friuli. A bit of parochialism doesn't hurt: after the arrivals in Bibione, this time we get excited with the grand finale in the regional capital.
Germanetti. The only winner of the Italian Baja world championship has so far been Franco Germanetti, on a Nissan in 2000. Hiroshi. There Masuoka's first time at the Baja is definitely an event. The "jap" won the last two editions of the Dakar and in 2001 it was "snatched" by Schlesser. Logical to give him the ranks of favorite. Italians. They are just over half of the competitors in the race. Therefore, almost foreigners in the house, they will have to fight in agony to keep the flag high.
Look. World apart from that of the tout terrain, which does not mind appearances. We get our suit dirty and breathe an atmosphere of adventure. Mitsubishi: the only official squadron present at the Italian Baja: two cars for the World Cup (Peterhansel and Masuoka), one for the European Baja s (Sousa). One goal: to win. Nissan. No official commitment to the Baja for the other Leading Japanese manufacturer in off-road vehicles, but a series of very aggressive private teams. Orioli. The "Friulafrican" (Nissan Patrol n. 207) does not disdain the Pordenone race at all, of which he was the first winner (1993) when it was only a challenge to national level. Pordenonesi. A quartet in motorcycles - Franco Dal Bello, Stefano Candida, Reno Sellan and Marco Taviano - e Angelo Montico among the quads, able to fight for the ranking that matters to him. Quad. Record of participations (25) and show guaranteed by four-wheeled motorcycles. Rallysti. The Baja today can count on Antonio Manfrinato and Marco Tempestini, the latter winner of the 2002 Cellina Rally. Schlesser. The great absentee of the challenge. Too bad, but we will certainly see him at work again.
The Baja ends in Piazza Unità d'Italia in Trieste, a sumptuous finale that winks at institutional sponsors.
