This race is valid for the Portuguese Cross-Country Rally chamspionship (CNTT) for motos, quads and SSV non-FIA

Martim Ventura (moto), Rafael Carvalho (Quad) and the couple João Monteiro/Nuno Morais (SSV) lead the championship

While the car pilots are taking a break until the second race of the Portuguese championship, which will take place in Spain in the first days of April, the pilots of all other categories will have this weekend full of action and competition in the mountains of central Portugal.

Celebrating its 30th edition, the Raide "Paraíso do Todo-o-Terreno" Góis-Arganil, second stage of the National Cross-Country Championship, presents an entry list with more than one hundred competitors that, starting tomorrow, will face a 303 km long course in the mountain tracks of Góis and Arganil. Winners of the opening race Martim Ventura and Rafael Carvalho, both on Yamaha and respectively in the Moto and Quad competitions and the duo João Monteiro/Nuno Morais on Can-Am in SSV, lead the championship.

In the two-wheelers we will surely watch a duel between the candidate to the title and the champion, Martim Ventura and António Maio, both on Yamaha, which in the fast tracks of Beja, was for the former. To point out the much welcomed return of Bruno Santos on Husqvarna. The former national Rally Raid champion suffered an accident in 2021 and 16 months later is back on the track, having recently shown all his fiber in Abu Dhabi, second stage of the World Championship. Bruno Santos joins an increasingly excellent squad on two wheels that includes Honda pilots - Gustavo Gaudêncio, Fábio Magalhães, João Duarte, Gonçalo and Salvador Amaral - Husqvarna - Miguel Castro, Daniel Jordão and Micael Simão - Fantic - Tomás Dias and Fernando Ferreira and Bernardo Megre (KTM) and David Megre (Kawasaki). Also returning to the national races is the current veterans world champion Mário Patrão on KTM.

In the Quad races, the Góis race will not be able to count on national champion João Vale, who had an accident in Beja in his debut at the controls of a Can-Am Renegade XXC. The fight for the victory should be very lively between the young Rafael Carvalho, winner in Beja, and the very fast Luís Fernandes and Fernando Cardoso, all on Yamaha. Other names to consider are Fábio Ferreira on ATVRacing, the young Rodrigo Alves and Tiago Ferreira and the returning Filipe Martins, all on Yamaha. Important presence is the European champion Luis Pimenta on a Moto Star.

In SSV the list of candidates to victory is extensive, but we must start with the names of João Monteiro in Can-Am, winner of the opening race, and the national champion Gonçalo Guerreiro, now at the wheel of a Polaris PRO R, registered as official pilot of the American manufacturer, who won this race last year. Other names to keep in mind are Luis Cidade, Roberto Borrego, Nelson Caxias, Helder Rodrigues, Pedro Santinho Mendes, Ricardo Sousa, Herlander Araújo, Marco Pereira, Avelino Luís all Can-Am pilots who in Beja rolled strong. In the Stock championship highlight for the predictable duel between Rui Serpa in Can-Am winner in Beja and the champion Nelson Saramago in Polaris.

The 30th Raide "Paraíso do Todo-o-Terreno" Góis- Arganil is a competition organized by the Góis Moto Clube. In this 30th edition the pilots will start their participation in a prologue with 2,9 km that will take place on Saturday, 18th. On the same day the PEC 1 with 148, 69 km of selective sector will be disputed and repeated the next day. The race ends on Sunday with the 13:00 PEC 3 with 2.9 km.

Automatic translation from the original Portuguese version available on www.todoterreno.pt

Source: CNTT/ A2 Comunicação
Photos: Rally-Raid Network / Imagens Desportivas

-  SSV race victory goes to Amerigo Ventura

4 for 4 for the husband-and-wife crew that won the opening round of the Italian Cross Country Championship. In the Side by Side it's still Buttó's scratch, but a puncture had eliminated him from the games, the victory to the Yamaha Quaddy YXZ1000R of Amerigo Ventura and Mirko Brun

Great show at the Italian Baja di Primavera, the opening round of the Italian Cross Country Championship crowns Manuele Mengozzi and Erica Bombardini. Perfect interpretation of the Artugna Race by the husband-and-wife crew on Toyota Hilux Overdrive of Team My Racing Autosport: they set the best time in all 4 selective sectors. 1:24'47.6 is the total time the couple celebrated their success on the top step of the podium.

Impeccable the work carried out at the Italian Baja di Primavera, the race organized by the Fuoristrada Club 4x4 valid for the first round of the Italian Cross Country Championship, with a steady improvement since the already excellent time set in the morning, until dropping below 21 minutes in the last test before returning for the closing ceremonies.

Great constancy also in the pursuers, all belonging to the T1 group, with Ricky Rickler and Massimo Gabrielleschi, Mitsubishi Pajero with the colors of R Team, having to "settle" for the second step of the podium, with a gap of 1'27.6 on the overall time of the four trials. The pace was certainly not lacking in the first appointment of 2023 with the tricolor, an early harbinger of the intense battles that will be unleashed in the race over the course of the season.

Third place for Emilio Ferroni and Daniele Fiorini, Suzuki Gran Vitara Erre Team, confirming a balance set from the first bars, with the podium in fact remaining unchanged in all four trials that make up the Artugna Race.

Fourth and first of the T2 group, Lorenzo Codecà navigated by Mauro Taffoli, the series champion closes ahead of his rival and teammate, 888 Team by Ito Motorsport, the 2022 Champion Alfio Bordonaro, paired with Stefano Lovisa. The two crews were accumunited by the uncertainty of running on a "borrowed" Suzuki Gran Vitara; in fact, their own broken-in cars were not ready for the season opener due to delays in the delivery of some components. However, Codecà and Bordonaro certainly did not disfigure themselves, putting their first points of the season in their pockets, waiting to return to the wheel "of the yellow cars" at Colline Metallifere.

Closing sixth was Paolo Semeraro, navigated by Giuditta Viganò, in turn at the wheel of a Suzuki Gran Vitara of 888 Team by Ito Motorsport. In seventh place again a Suzuki Gran Vitara, that of Alberto Spinetti and Lara Giusti prepared by R Team.

Finishing the Italian Baja di Primavera eighth was Andrea Debbi, paired with Chiara Zappellaro on a Daihatsu Rocky. Debbi mocks Gianluca Morra and takes the victory in the TH group, overtaking his rival in the penultimate selective sector. The Suzuki Gran Vitara 888 Team by Ito Motorsport of Michele Macchiavelli and Fernando Caruggi closes the Top 10.

Comes the withdrawal in the last stage for Andrea Luchini and Pietro Bosco, at the "break-in" race of the Suzuki New Gran Vitara by Island Motorsport. Bitterness at the end, in a race that, despite being approached with the goal of finding the feeling with the new car, showed very interesting highlights from the duo.

Manuele Mengozzi: "The car was perfect. I got into the race without difficulty, the course was stimulating, exciting. It stimulated to push and also to put on a show, the result was perfect. The navigator did not miss a note, she guided me through the laps after the first one with extra information. The mechanics were impeccable...a very good weekend I would say!"

Italian SSV Championship

In the Italian SSV Championship, it is Amerigo Ventura, navigated by Mirko Brun on Team Quaddy's Yamaha Quaddy YXZ1000R, who picks up his first win of the season. Ventura thus closes the trilogy, are in fact now 3 victories obtained in a row in the Pordenone race. 1:25'58.7 was the overall time. Second step of the podium for Valentino Rocco and Giada Manocchi, who can boast of a masterfully interpreted race on their Yamaha Quaddy YXZ1000R, soiled only by 2'30 of penalties received for breaking the speed limit in the speed controlled zone. Third step and champagne bath on the awards stage for Andrea Tomasini and Angelo Mirolo, thus completing the trio of Yamaha Quaddy YXZ1000Rs of the Quaddy Team. For the Tomasini-Mirolo duo a great success in what was expected to be a 'test race,' their first with Side by Side Yamaha.

Not making the podium were Federico Buttò and Nicola Collodel, who nevertheless deserve an honorable mention after setting the best time of the day, as well as the best time in three of the four selective sectors. Nothing, however, was unfortunately needed to make up the disadvantage accumulated with the morning's puncture. The duo gave it their all, finishing the test with a damaged cover, before going to service for a change, but the gap was at that point unbridgeable despite great speed.

Amerigo Ventura: "This first race is a great opportunity for us to brush up on our driving skills and test some new components and minor modifications. We made changes at the set-up level, some in the right direction. We made a crescendo in the various specials coming in the end to make the best time, it means we are going in the right direction."

The appointment with the tricolor off-road is now at April 14 and 15 with the 1st Baja Colline Metallifere.

Automatic translation from the Italian version available on ACI Sport's official site
Source ACI Sport

Just a few days to the start of the tricolor ACI Sport reserved for off-roaders that will open the dances in the capital of Friuli. Many challenges await the protagonists among the “serial vehiclesâ€. Also ready for the start are the TH and side-by-side vehicles.

Countdown also for the start of the Italian Cross Country and SSV Championship 2023, ready to start from the 13th Italian Baja di Primavera - Artugna Race, the opening race of the tricolor off road. New challenges will once again involve the protagonists of the series promoted by ACI Sport dedicated to off-road vehicles, who will tread the streets of Pordenone on Saturday, March 11, during the race organized by Fuoristrada Club 4X4 Pordenone, which will involve the municipalities of Fontanafredda, Polcenigo, Budoia and Aviano. Several names of entrants among standard and side-by-side vehicles, waiting to fire up the engines to kick off the first round in 2023.

OPEN BATTLE BETWEEN T1 AND T2 

Among the main protagonists of the first round of the year we find the vehicles belonging to the T1 category, including the two Suzuki's Andrea Luchini paired with Piero Bosco on New Gran Vitara, one of the main interpreters of the 2022 Championship and the trophy promoted by the Hamamatsu manufacturer disputed last season, and Emilio Ferroni flanked by Daniele Fiorini on Gran Vitara, the same car on which Stefano Sabellico and Andrea Taloni will also compete. Scrolling down the list, they are followed by Manuele Mengozzi and Erica Bombardini aboard the Toyota Hilux Overdrive and the Nissan Navarra of the crew composed of Gabriele Seno and Denis Piceno. Also running among the T1s is the duo on Nissan Patrol GR formed by Rossi-Tassile, as well as the Mitsubishi Pajero with "Ricky" and Massimo Gabrielleschi on board and the Isuzu Trooper of Benettolo-Grandin.

Leading the way for the group reserved for T2 vehicles is the reigning champion of the tricolor series dedicated to off-roaders and holder of the Suzuki Challenge Alfio Bordonaro, also on a Gran Vitara ready to defend the title he won last year paired with Stefano Lovisa. The driver from Catania will have to contend with the other three Suzuki Gran Vitara of Group T2 of Paolo Semeraro and Giuditta Viganò, the pair composed of Michele Macchiavelli and Fernando Carruggi and the crew formed by Michele Machiavelli and Fernando Caruggi. Crews that will all be direct opponents of Bordonaro in the one-make trophy as well. Also competing in the same category is Andrea Schiumarini, racing with Massimo Salvatore with whom he shares the Mitsubishi Pajero.

ALSO IN RACE THE TH 

There is no shortage of vehicles belonging to the TH category, where the name of Gianluca Morra stands out, flanked by Gianluca Sbaraglia on a Suzuki Gran Vitara. The Novara-born driver will try to win the top spot after the third place sealed last season, behind Giuseppe Ananasso and Giovanni Farina. Also present will be Paolo Cau, at the wheel of the Mitsubishi Pajero Evo shared with Rocco Sbaraglia, and Andrea Debbi paired with Chiara Zoppellaro, while Alberto Gazzetta will race with Andrea Pizzato in a Suzuki New Jimny.

THE CHALLENGES BETWEEN SSVs 

Also racing for a place on the podium are the side-by-side vehicles, to which cars belonging to the T4 and T4N groups belong, including the name of Amerigo Ventura. The category champion driver in 2022 will return to the land of the Friulian capital, where he sealed his first victory last year, flanked by Mirko Brun on Yamaha Quaddy YXZ1000R of Team Quaddy ASD. In pursuit will be Alessandro Bonetto navigated by Anna Gamenara, the pair formed by Andrea Tomasini and Angelo Mirolo, the Turkish Becce-Tatar crew and Valentino Rocco with Alessandra Magnoni. All on Yamaha Quaddy, while Michele and Giada Manocchi will be aboard the Yamaha YXZ1000R, as will Mauro Vagaggini and Manuele Perissinotti. Also at the start is the CAN AM Maverick of Federico Buttò and Nicola Collodel.

SCHEDULE

The Italian Baja di Primavera - Artugna Race will start warming up its engines as early as Friday, March 10, when scrutineering will take place. Instead, the race will get underway the following day, Saturday, March 11, with an 8:00 a.m. start. Crews will then head to the first passage "Artugna 1" with start at 9:00 am. A total of 28.33 km to be repeated three more times before the return at 5:00 p.m., the time at which the awards ceremony will take place.

Automatic translation from the original Italian Version available on www.acisport.it
Source ACI Sport
Photo ACI Sport

Anticipation quivers for the start of the Italian Cross Country and Ssv Championships. A few surprises from an entry list that opens up new Scudetto challenges. Bordonaro and Codecà will both be at the start in a Suzuki Ddi 1.9 T2.

A Jap thrill to the last and it looked like the unthinkable might happen. Defending Cross Country champion, Alfio Bordonaro, and former champion Lorenzo Codecà, forced to sit out the season opener at the Artugna Race - 13th Italian Baja di Primavera due to the unavailability of spare parts needed to restart their New Grand Vitara short and long wheelbase respectively. No good news from the Rising Sun in the immediate future, but "brotherly" help from Chinti Marino Gambazza, who entrusted his Suzuki Grand Vitara Ddis 1.9 to the Sicilian co-racer, and a change in extremis on the T2 counterpart of Samuele Lelli, who was forced to forfeit for personal reasons, thus ceding his vehicle to the multi-decorated Lombard (eleven championships in the bag).

CCR - So the Artugna Race will be able to enjoy the "series" duel between Bordonaro flanked by Stefano Lovisa and Codecà by Mauro Toffoli, not coincidentally two experienced Pordenone navigators able to sniff the track on the piedmont dirt roads close to the dry creek.

Opponents in T2 Paolo Semeraro, Alberto Spinetti and Michele Machiavelli also on Vitara, Andrea Schiumarini with a Mitsubishi Pajero. On paper, obviously favored are the more muscular T1 prototypes: Suzuki Vitara for Andrea Luchini, Emilio Ferroni and Stefano Sabellico; Toyota Hilux for Manuele Mengozzi; Nissan Navara the vehicle of Gabriele Seno, Nissan Patrol that of Antonio Rossi; Mitsubishi Pajero for Rickler del Mare Cesare Gianfranco in art "Ricky," while Riccardo Benettolo will be at the wheel of an Isuzu Trooper.

Four rivals in Group TH: Gianluca Morra (Suzuki Vitara), Paolo Cau (Mitsubishi Pajero), Andrea Debbi (Daihatsu Rocky) and Alberto Gazzetta (Suzuki Jimny).

SSV - Watch out for declinations for the Side by Side as well, because there are significant differences in horsepower and technical equipment between prototypes and production derivatives. The Quaddy Team mixes the values in the field with its Yamaha Yxz1000R T4 prototypes in the hands of Amerigo Ventura, defending champion, Alessandro Bonetto, Andrea Tomasini making his debut on the lightweight tubular, the unknown Mert Becce Sabri from Turkey. T4N for Valentino Rocco, protagonist last season, and Gabriele Piccini, TM for Michele Manocchi and Mauro Vagaggini, who boasts the tricolor trophy grabbed in 2017.

Friday afternoon logistical appointment at the Interporto di Pordenone for checks and tuning, Saturday the Italian Baja di Primavera among the countryside of Fontanafredda, Polcenigo, Budoia and Aviano. Open-air theater with free access to drift and countersteer enthusiasts, keeping under cover and with respect to marshals and law enforcement.

Automatic translation from the original Italian version availabe on www.italianbaja.it
Text: Italian Baja / Carlo Ragogna Ufficio Stampa Italian Baja
Foto AciSport