Baja do Pinhal 2020: Baja TT do Pinhal to host opening round of FIM Bajas World Cup

Portugal will mark the return of the 2020 FIM Cross-Country Bajas World Cup when it hosts Baja TT do Pinhal on Saturday, September 12-13.

After the usual scrutineering and administration checks, 51 motorcycles, 15 quads and 63 SSVs registered for the two-day event will tackle around 328 competitive kilometres along rural tracks in the district of Castelo Branco in central Portugal.

After many months of inactivity, riders are relishing the prospect of hitting the tracks and rediscovering the thrill of racing on their bikes and quads or behind the wheel of their SSVs.

Following the routine checks on Saturday morning at the municipal swimming pool in Vila Velha de Rodão, the eight motorcycle riders, three Quads and three SSVs registered for the FIM Cross-Country Bajas World Cup (provisional list) will tackle a course of 95 km. Two special stages totalling 232km will run on Sunday, September 13.

The nerve centre of the race is located in Vila Velha de Rodão, a small town on the banks of the Tagus River. Nearby is the famous "Portas de Rodão", a rocky escarpment declared a Natural Monument of Portugal and the narrowest passage of the Tagus on its route through Portugal.

Tomas de Gavardo is keen to retain his Junior title and flew from Santiago in Chile to Spain and will arrive in Portugal at the weekend. He will take part in the Baja on a KTM as part of Mario Patrão's team.

“After the Baja TT do Pinhal, I will go back to Chile,” explains the young Chilean. “And I will come back for the Baja Portalegre in November. After this second Baja, I will stay in Europe to train with my brother Matteo, who is based near Barcelona and rides enduro. Then I will go to the Baja in Dubai and then to the Desert Challenge in Abu Dhabi."

Polish rider Maciek Giemza (Husqvarna) is also entered in the Baja TT do Pinhal in the Junior category. His teammate Adam Tomiczek (Husqvarna) - winner of the Hungarian Baja last year - will also face Sebastian Bühler (Hero), Mario Patrão (KTM), CS Santosh (Hero) and two female riders - Sara Garcia (Yamaha) and Rosa Romero Font (KTM).
In the quad category, there are three riders registered for the FIM Cross-Country Bajas World Cup - female rider Olga Roukova (Yamaha), Luis Eingeitado (Yamaha) and Toni Vingt (Yamaha). The SSV registrations are Pedro Santinho Mendes (Can-Am), Cidades/Mendonça (Can-Am) and the Franco/Guilherme (Can-Am) crew.

Source FIM / Photo Tomaselli