Let’s start wishing a “Happy New Year” to everybody: may 2008 give peace and serenity to off-road pilots, merging in Italian Baja sport, spectacle, competitive spirit and enjoyment in a melting pot of nationalities, where the common element is passion for motors and adventure.
As already notified, the appointment is for the long week-end from 13th to 16th March: as in the past years, it’s put in calendar few days before the spring time leading off the “dance” of the International Cup for Cross Country Bajas. A special atmosphere for Italian Baja is made also from the good idea of installing the headquarters of the race at the “Dream Village” in Cordenons, a wonderful sport centre close to Pordenone: it surrounds the international event with attraction and curiosity.
A lot of inquiries about the race, especially about the news of the track and the dislocation of selective sectors, are arriving from Italy and foreign countries, but General Manager Mauro Tavella’s strict order must be “top secret”.
Authorizations to the transit into the concerned countries have been requested in great advance (more in advance than the past years), in order to complete in good time each organising detail.
Any way nothing may be notified until the regulation allows the publication of maps and times.
Besides that, the fascination of the Tout Terrain is just inside the uncertainty margins about the track that make the challenge complicated, and undertake pilots and navigators in their own role.
On this point, some protagonists, completely new figures in this speciality are announced: Giuseppe Gibilisco, pole vault 2003 World Champion.
Recently the “Gazzetta dello Sport” published an interview in which the Siracusian athlete revealed his intention of beginning as a pilot on the same dirt track of Pordenone, where he run for the first time on prototype Isuzu last November. His ambitious objective is to run at Pharaons Rally and Dakar 2009. “Rumours”, Ok, but able to drive up the attention of media and the interest of sponsor.
Such an opportunity is to be kept in the due consideration also by Italian Baja: let’s remind that this year motorcycles will run again, widening the stalls of competitors with their group of “niche” fans, but still making a solid and everlasting tradition.
Carlo Ragogna Italian Baja Press Office
