Baja, the invasion of the "clawed wheels"
Not only cars at the Italian Baja, but also motorcycles and quads to guarantee emotions and entertainment for off-road enthusiasts. The Pordenone race, valid for the Italian Baja Championship, the Alpe Adria Baja Championship and the Triveneto Quad Baja Sprint trophy, officially opens the racing season for the two and four clawed-wheel riders.
Motorcycle. The challenge on the shores of the Tagliamento river and Cosa will serve bikers above all as a dress rehearsal in view of the European debut at the Baja of Portugal in April. A sort of springboard for the new Team Mg Husqvarna Monster Energy, which uses the Turin-based Nicola Dutto, Italian and European champion, and Gianfranco Ronco, second in 2008 in both rankings. Another Piedmontese, Claudio Mana, and the rookie from Vicenza Andrea Berlato, both on Aprilia Rxv 550, will try to undermine the targets of the treads, while the ambitions of Ruggero Meneghini and Francesco Beltrami on Ktm appear more secluded on paper.
Quad. There is a bit of everything at the start of the Italian Baja. Starting with the Italian champion, Tiziano Sette from Vicenza, who will ride the new Polaris Outlaw. Duel announced with Denis Rossetto from Padua, winner of the 2008 Triveneto trophy, while the MGM squadron led by Silvestro Paris is announced as always. Speaking of teams, a lot of curiosity to see the new Xc Race team of Pordenone Angelo Montico at work, with the Kawasaki 450s entrusted to Massimiliano Masante and Alessandro Fontanazzi. Suzuki lined up with Gianmarco Fossà, Fabrizio Nori and Gabriele Di Doi from San Vito, who plays at home but will have so much pressure on him. Stefano Cavaciuti will bring the Honda Trx 700 to its debut, while Simone Parrini and the brothers Gianluca and Andrea Pina are part of the aficionados of Italian Baja, 'hard core' of an exciting and hard-fought race, with some specialists from Eastern Europe at the start.
Differences. The driving setting is completely different between motorcycles (the wheel goes where the eye points) and quads that are driven with car trajectories. The less excursion of the shock absorbers makes the path for quads more difficult. The 2009 route, specifically designed to stay further away from the water, is a classic off-road, fast and fun. After the first ride 'in the dark', motorcycles and quads will be able to orient themselves with the traces left by the cars, taking care, however, to avoid getting stuck in the 'caregge' so as not to compromise the mechanics of the vehicles.
