Baja Portalegre 2021: Bike win for Neels Theric, Michek crowned FIM Bajas World Cup winner

Mirjam Pol wins the Women’s category – Dabrowski takes the Juniors
Prata wins Veterans – Pinto and Al-Tuwaijri snatch SSV and Quad titles

Frenchman Neels Théric (KTM) won the FIM category at the Baja Portalegre 500 and finished ahead of his compatriot Mathieu Doveze (KTM) after running 410km of competition in two days and difficult weather conditions.
However, Martin Michek (KTM) surprisingly won the FIM Bajas World Cup. Mohammed Balooshi had enjoyed a good season and arrived in Portugal 10 points ahead of his Czech opponent, but the Emirati, who is more used to riding over desert terrain, failed to find his form over the stages in the Alentejo region and only finished in fourth position in the FIM Bajas World Cup.

There was also bad luck for Sebastian Bühler (Hero), who was on track to win the Baja Portalegre 500 and dominated his opponents before he fell in the third special.

The race was relatively stressful tor the new Junior champion Konrad Dabrowski (KTM) from the first special stage on Friday. After the Qualifying Stage, he experienced electrical setbacks and finished a long way behind. Fortunately, he was able to start again on Sunday and finished fourth in the first special in the morning and sixth in the afternoon. That allowed the Pole to climb up the general classification and win the FIM Bajas World Cup from Neels Theric and Margot Llobera.

The female category was won by Mirjam Pol (Husqvarna), who finished ahead of Sara Garcia (Yamaha), Margot Llobera (KTM) and the gritty and determined Kuwaiti rider Sarah Khuraibet (KTM).

Pedro Bianchi Prata was a regular in rallies and an excellent team manager and won the Veteran’s Trophy.

In the SSV category, Alexandre Pinto was the only rider qualified to run the grand final of the season in Portalegre and he won the SSV category.

In the quad section, Saudi Arabian rider Haitham Al-Tuwayjri earned the laurels after participating in all the events in the calendar. He finished ahead of his compatriots Faisal Al-Suwayh and Hani Al-Noumesi.

Source of text: FIM
Images Rally-Raid Network