Baja TT do Pinhal 2020: Victory for Buhler on two wheels; Engeitado in quads and Dias victorious in SSVs

FIM Cross-Country Bajas World Cup, round 1
SS1: 79.46km
SS2: 141.01km
SS3: 75.35km 
Total: 295.82km

The Baja TT do Pinhal, organised by the Escuderia Castelo Branco, was moved from September 12/13 because of the Covid-19 health crisis. But, the day before the first special stage, fate intervened with the opening round of the FIM Cross-Country Bajas World Cup.
With the mercury climbing dangerously in the thermometer, a Portuguese ministerial decree banned all competition because of the risk of local wild fires. Race officials were granted permission to postponed Baja TT do Pinhal for a further week and the race took place – on this occasion across tracls soaked by rain and even shrouded in fog on SS2A!

From the very first special, Sebastian Bühler (Hero) claimed an advantage over his opponents and never relinquished that lead to eventually take the laurels in 4hr 15min 04sec with a 3min 02sec advantage over Polish rider Adam Tomiczek (Husqvarna). Maciek Giemza (Husqvarna) was third, 5min 46sec adrift.

"Everything went very well for me," said Bühler. “In the afternoon,the terrain was completely different from the morning and had dried up. I was even making dust, while in the morning, we drove in the rain. It’s good to train on all kinds of terrain in one race.”

In the quad category, Luis Eingeitado (Yamaha) won in a time of 4hr 22min 01sec and finished 24min 27sec ahead of Toni Vingt (Yamaha) and 53min 54sec in front of rival Olga Roukovà (Yamaha).

Of the 13 riders entered in the FIM motorcycle and quad categories, three women fought for the Trophy and it was the Portuguese Janaina Souza (Honda) who crossed the finish line 5min 14sec ahead of of Spain's Sara Garcia (Yamaha). Quad rider Olga Roukovà (Yamaha) rounded off the podium.
n the Junior category, Maciek Giemza (Husqvarna) finished ahead of the two Juniors running in the SSV section - Alexandre Pinto and Luis Cidade. Tomas de Gavardo (KTM) travelled all the way from Chile to defend his title and found himself in fourth place.

Official Results after SS3
Bikes
1.S. Buhler (Hero) in 4h15’05
2.A. Tomiczek (Huqvarna) @3’02
3.M. Giemza (Huqvarna) @5’46
4.M. Simao (KTM) @14’01
5.T. De Gavardo (KTM) @30’05

Quads
1.L.Engeitado (Yamaha) in 4h22’01
2.T. Vingut (Yamaha) @24’27
3.O. Roukova (Yamaha) @53’54

SSV
1.Dias (Can Am) in 4h19’42
2.A.Pinto (Can Am) @0’59
3.Cidade (Can Am)@4’14

Source FIM
Photos Rally-Raid Network