The driver from Qatar wins the Memorial Azzaretti with aToyota Hilux and leads the World Cup race. First among bikers De Soltrait, while Vidal Montijano leads quads’ rank.
Today the race will get serious with the 2 Selective Sectors
The favored driver already put his signature. Nasser Al Attiyah wins the Memorial Azzaretti and jumps to the lead of the Italian Baja, the Italian race valid for the FIA World Cup for Cross Country Rally. The driver from Qatar, navigated by Mathieu Baumel with a Toyota Hilux Overdrive, winner in 2008 and in 2015, closed the 10,27 km opening Super Special in a time of 7’56’’3, gaining a gap of 21’’3 ahead on Yazeed Al Rajhi (Mini All4 Racing) and 29’’3 ahead on Marek Dabrowski, driving another Hilux. The highlight biker is definitely Xavier De Soltrait (Yamaha Wrf) with a time of 8’11’’3 – the same time of Cominotto, the biker from Dignano – while the fastest quad rider is Oriol Vidal Montijano (Yamaha Yzf) with a time of 9’25’’. The prologue decides the classification, of course, but it can give us just a little clue: today, with the two Selective Sectors almost 75 km long, we will realize who will be really able to win the 23rd edition of the Italian Baja.
THE RACE. The driver from Qatar already secured himself the lead. After the start from Vittoria Square in Cordenons, in fact, Al Attiyah demonstrated to be the fastest driver. He is certainly the favored number one, also because he seized the first step of the podium in both two first races of the World Cup: today Al Rajhi, who yesterday was particularly optimist during the press conference (“I want to reverse the World Cup situation and come ahead on Nasser), should demonstrate that with his Mini he will be at the same level of his “collegue” from Qatar. Other quite important drivers crossed a bit later the arrival line: the Russian Boris Gadasin, with a G-Force, who won for three times the Pordenone race, reached the sixth position with a gap of 44’’3, closely followed by Lorenzo Codecà (Suzuki Grand Vitara), first in the Italian Rank (seventh position with a gap of 58’’3 from the leader).
Among local competitors Fabrizio Martinis, navigated by Claudio Vigna, leads the Italian rank (22nd in the overall rank with a Isuzu Dmax, with a gap of 1’40’’7 from Al Attiyah). A hard challenge was fought in the bike race, with an absolute equal result between De Soltrait and Vanni Cominotto (Husqvarna 450 Te), who gained the same time: the real battle will be therefore waged today. We should pay attention to Joan Pedrero (Sherco), who gained the third position with a time of 20’’4. Among quads, Vidal was anle to secure himself a gap of over 40’’ ahead on Lami (Renegade): soon we will know something more about the possible winner.
THE CLOU. The clou of the race is coming, as preview. Participants have to face the “Arzene” Selective Sector, 74,40 km long, with the starting line in San Lorenzo and the arrival in Valvasone. The Road Book declares the first start at 9.30am, the second one at 1.30pm. Starting order: cars first, then bikes and quads. On Sunday the opposite route for the “Rauscedo” Selective Sector. The length of the route is the same: start from Valvasone and arrival in San Lorenzo.
Press office Italian Baja
Carlo Ragogna
