FIA European Cup for Cross Country Baja
FIM Baja World Cup
HunGarian Baja had an exciting grand finale, with only the final metres decided in some of the categories. In car category Krzysztof Holowczyc, among riders Stefan Svitko, and in quad category Juraj Varga celebrated on the podium at the prize giving ceremony in front of the Thury Castle in Várpalota.
Krzysztof Holowczyc was all smiles when jumping up and clicking his heels, the legendary Polish driver was extremely happy for his win at the HunGarian Baja. Not surprisingly, since he took back the lead only on the last stage, and especially because his gearbox made strange noises during the day, so they had to pray for even finishing the race. Instead, he could claim victory.
“We knew that the beginning of the stage is very quick, we really pushed our limits there: I stepped on the gas and pushed as I could” Holowczyc said. “When I saw that we were leading ahead of De Mevius by one minute and 20 seconds and even more in front of Maluszynski, I started to pay more attention to the car on the bumpy parts. I should have done it, because the gearbox suddenly stopped. We re-started the engine, and from then on, we just prayed for getting to the finish. We did, and we won. It was a great race in difficult conditions, but we really enjoyed it. What else can I say? I am very happy!”
Ghislain de Mevius was in a great mood at the finish, because he could catch up to second position in overall on the last stage, and indeed, he claimed his first ever win in T3 category.
“Although we had some advantage in our category, I pushed as I could, because if you start to drive safe and slow, mistakes may come more easily” De Mevius said. “It was good to drive the car, and I just wanted to enjoy racing. This is my first T3 win, and I am very happy for it, because Joao Dias is a great driver, and it is not easy to beat him. It was a perfect weekend, the team did a great job, we are very happy.”
Michal Maluszynski finished third, even if he was leading before the last stage. The afternoon stage took a toll on him, he got sick of the heat and bumpy road, so when he arrived to the finish, he was fully exhausted. But he secured the podium and that was the point.
“This race is very demanding for both man and machine, there are some tricky parts” Maluszynski said. “We tried to drive fast, but we could not do it everywhere, and we had to be careful to be able to stay on road and not to be lost. On the last stage from around 30 kilometre, I did not feel well, so I am happy to be here.”
In category T4 Amerigo Ventura was the fastest. “It wasn’t an easy day, because there were more and more stones on the road, which increased the risk of puncture, and made us more stressed, but we did not take any risk, because we were leading the category since Friday, and did not want to damage the car” Ventura said.
The best Hungarian Csaba Miklós finished tenth, and secured fourth position in his category (T3), for which he was very happy after such a difficult race.
“The stage is more dangerous in backwards, than it was yesterday: stony and bumpy, but luckily, we did not have any problem” Csaba Miklós said, whose co-driver was the very experienced Albert Horn. “The race is great, and thanks to the precise road book the harmony with my co-driver is perfect. Exhausting, bumpy and stony, but this is what cross-country rally is about. We wanted to get to the podium in T3 category, but I think a well-fought fourth place is better than a non-finish.”
Stefan Svitko won the FIM World Cup at the HunGarian Baja. With his KTM bike he was the fastest on all stages, so his win was never threatened. He has participated at five HunGarian Bajas and has won 3 of 5 with two second positions. Unbelievable achievement!
“It is a good feeling to win HunGarian Baja for the third time, especially, because it was a tough race” Svitko said. We went reverse today, so there were lots of stones that the cars turned out yesterday, so I had to keep my head at some places. Not before the finish of the second stage we caught up three buggies, and it was difficult to ride in their dust, we could not see anything. But I won, and it makes me happy, because I feel I am in good shape.”
Jan Brabec, after finishing second, said that he enjoyed today’s stage better, he set a good pace, and felt he was able to ride much more relaxed. “I didn’t feel any pressure, we had fun together with other riders, and luckily, my ankle did not hurt. Interestingly, when wearing the race boots, I do not feel anything from my injury, probably, they hold it tight and maybe the adrenaline helps, too. However, it is very dangerous that according to the regulations tyre change is not allowed, because my tyres got tired by the end, I could hardly ride on them.”
David Megre was also scratching his head while looking at the tyres, his ones have become slick, too. “We are armed by different safety accessories, and we have to ride on these tyres” Megre said with shaking his head. “I had to slow down on some occasions not to break myself, but the point is that I am here. On the first stage I tried to pull the gas trying to catch up Brabec, but he was very fast, so in the afternoon I rather rode smartly to keep my third position, because these points are very important for me in the World Cup classification.”
World Cup leader Mohammed Al Balooshi finished fifth by overtaking Richárd Hodola of Hungary on the last stage. “This race was full of challenges, but approaching to the finish you always find some extra energy to finish on high” Balooshi said. “Another Baja in my tally, which I am very happy for, and it makes me even more happy, that there was no rain. I did even like today’s heat, I absolutely loved it. I enjoyed the stage in reverse much better. It was similar to motocross. I am still leading the World Cup, and which is more important, I did my best, everything I could.”
Richárd Hodola was the best Hungarian with finishing sixth in FIM classification, and although he was very tired, he was satisfied. “I got tired by the end, my hands also hurt, I could hardly pull the gas” Hodola said. “I kept the pace as much as I could, and I think I have no reason to feel ashamed, but I have to learn from my mistakes and keep going forward.”
There was a fierce battle in the front of the quad category, only 1 second separated Kevin Giroud and Juraj Varga before the last stage. Expectedly, both of them pushed their limits. Two very exhausted riders arrived to the main square of Várpalota, but with huge smiles. Finally, Juraj Varga won the great fight.
“I reached my limits, I think I could not do more” Juraj Varga said. “I had to get the maximum from the beginning to the end, because Kevin is a very tough rider, and he did everything for the victory. The track was better today with the cars cleaned it ahead of us, which helped for the quads. I am verry happy for the win, it is a special victory for me.”
“This guy is crazy, it is unbelievable how he pulls the gas” Kevin Giroud added. “It was a great race, I am absolutely exhausted, but happy, because I have collected important points. And this battle between us… it was totally crazy!”
XX HUNGARIAN BAJA, VÁRPALOTA
Final classification. FIM World Cup. Bikes: 1. Stefan Svitko (Slovakia, KTM) 5:48:49.9, 2. Brabec (Czech Republic, KTM) +15:45.8 min., 3. Merge (Portugal, Kawasaki) +20:29.3 min, …6. Richárd Hodola (Hungary, KTM) +49:18.6 min.
FIA European Cup. Cars: 1. Krzysztof Holowczyc, Lukasz Kurzeja (Poland, BMW X3) 5:19:34.4, 2. De Mevius, Jalet (Belgium, G Rally Team OT3) +36.5 sec., 3. Maluszynski, Maluszynska (Poland, Mini John Cooper Works) +1:29.7 min., …10. Csaba Miklós, Albert Horn (Hungary, Bedu Pro X3) +34:09.4 min.
Source: Hungarian Baja
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