The engines roar in Cordenons. Today begins the fifteenth edition of the Italian Baja, the great off-road race valid for the International Cup For Cross Country Bajas. Formula that is enjoying increasing success, divided into six races, the first of which was held in February in Saudi Arabia, while the next ones will be in order in Spain (17-20 July), Hungary (21-24 August), Gran Brittany (25-28 September) and Portugal (6-9 November).
Sporting checks. Yesterday afternoon the sporting and technical checks began at the Dream Village in Cordenons, which will end this morning (from 8 to 13.30). At 2 pm there will be a briefing with the drivers, during which the particularities of the route will be illustrated, giving information on any possible variation of the track.
Start. The motorbikes will take off from the Dream Village in Viale del Benessere first, at 3 pm, followed by quads and cars. All the competitors will have to face the prologue of 'Barbeano ", 10 kilometers on the river bed of the Tagliamento starting from the Dignano bridge and following, subsequently, the bed of the Cosa torrent, coming out just below Tauriano. In the evening the first rankings and the starting order for the long stage of tomorrow.
Track. Between tomorrow and Sunday, the cars will have to face the 'Tagliamento' selective sector five times (starting from Gradisca di Spilimbergo and arriving in San Giorgio della Richinvelda), 63.31 km long, and 4 times the 'Monte Jouf' selective sector (from Maniago Libero up to Blosplans) of 20.15 km. For motorbikes and quads 3 passages on 'Tagliamento' and 4 on 'Monte Jouf'. Keep in mind that, while the cars will race on the Tagliamento, motorcycles and quads will be in action on Monte Jouf and vice versa. At the end of each lap, the off-road vehicles will stop at the service park in the industrial area of Maniago (Nip).
Timetables. Stage of tomorrow. Selective sector 'Tagliamento', start of car test 07.40, 11.45 and 15.50: start of motorbike and quad test 10.10 and 14.15. Selective sector 'Monte Jouf ", start of car test 09.25 and 13.30. Motorbike and quad test start 08.05 and 11.55.
Prediction. Uncertainty reigns supreme. Russian Boris Gadasin (Nissan Navara, competing with number 1) won last year and started the championship with a second place in Saudi Arabia, where Arab Nasser Al-Attiyah (BMW X3cc, number 2) won ). Spaniard Marc Roura Blazquez (Fornasari RR 450) is the most accredited, but has not yet tested the new car in racing. The prologue will at least provide some clarity.
