Bruno Santos was expected to be on the top step of the podium but it was another Portuguese rider who claimed the laurels with a brilliant victory at the Hungarian Baja. Young Martim Ventura took the spoils on a Husqvarna.
David Megre (Kawasaki) finished second, ahead of Mohammed Al-Balooshi (KTM) and Pedro Bianchi Prata (Honda). In the quad category, Marcin Wilkolek won hands down by riding as fast as the leading bikes.
Santos (Husqvarna) arrived in Hungary at the top of the provisional standings in the FIM Bajas World Cup and finished second in the Prologue and third in the first special stage. “The navigation was complicated,” explained the Portuguese after the opening stage. “The track was full of holes, jumps and stones. I rode fast but carefully.”
Unfortunately, caution was not enough and in the second selective section (SS2) on Saturday, Santos broke the rear suspension on his bike and was forced to retire. His demise paved the way for Junior rider Ventura, who won the other two specials, to claim the laurels ahead of Megre and Dubai rider Al-Balooshi. The latter garnered 16 points and regained the lead in the FIM Bajas World Cup, albeit tied with Megre.
“It was a really great race,” said Al-Balooshi. “It was a little complicated in some places but, in the end, everything went well. I did my best to reach the finish.”
Bianchi Prata also delivered a good performance: he is aiming for the podium in the FIM Bajas World Cup and the Veteran title. He said: “It was a race during which you had to stay concentrated because there were a lot of stones. It was hard but I like it, except for the GPS problem, which was not the same system as in the other races and which must not have been configured very well.”
Polish rider Joanna Modrzewska (Husqvarna) claimed victory In the Women’s category from Aishwarya Pissay (KTM). Wilkolek triumphed in the quads and finished well ahead of the Saudi duo of Haitham Al-Tuwaijri and Abdulaziz Al-Shayban.
All results on Sportity code HGB24_FIM
Source: FIM
Photos: Hungarian Baja
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