The 2026 Bajas European Championship continued with its second round at the Baja TT Dehesa Extremadura, held in the Spanish region of Extremadura around Badajoz. Following the season opener in Sardinia, competitors faced a completely different challenge, characterised by fast tracks, technical sections and the vast open landscapes that have made this event one of the most recognised Baja competitions on the Iberian Peninsula.
Organised as part of an international off-road programme that also included FIA and FIM competitions, the Baja TT Dehesa Extremadura once again showcased the unique characteristics of rally raid racing. The combination of navigation, endurance and speed tested riders throughout the weekend, while the demanding terrain of Extremadura required consistency and careful race management from start to finish.
After the opening round in Sardinia, where Andrea Gava established the early championship benchmark, the Spanish event produced another highly competitive contest and further shaped the battle for the European titles.
Moto Category
Portugal’s Paulo Cardoso (Kove Rally) delivered a commanding performance to secure victory in the motorcycle classification. Consistently among the fastest riders throughout the event, Cardoso completed the rally in a total time of 7h52m59s, proving untouchable at the front of the field. The battle for the remaining podium positions remained open until the final stages. Spain’s Victor Manuel Moya (Husqvarna 450 Rally Factory Replica) secured second place, finishing 33 minutes and 41 seconds behind the winner after a solid and controlled ride across the demanding Spanish terrain. Third overall went to Spain’s Esther Merino (Husqvarna FE 450), who also claimed victory in the Women’s classification. Despite receiving a time penalty, Merino maintained a competitive pace throughout the event and finished just over forty minutes behind Cardoso, confirming her position among the leading Baja riders in Europe. Poland’s Tomasz Niedźwiedzki (Honda CRF 450 RX) finished fourth, narrowly missing out on the podium, while compatriot Slawomir Sypien (KTM Rally Replica) completed the top five. Italy’s Matteo Bottino (Kove 800 Rally LS), competing in the Trail category, finished sixth overall.
Quad Category
The Quad classification saw a clear victory for Poland’s Marcin Wilkolek (Yamaha Raptor), who dominated the category and completed the rally in 7h36m11s. His performance was one of the standout results of the weekend, with a pace that would have placed him among the leading overall competitors. Portugal’s Jorge Sampaio (Yamaha AJ42 450R) secured second place after a consistent ride, finishing 47 minutes behind the winner and collecting valuable championship points.
Source: FIM Europe
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