The expected Dalmazzini (Suzuki) was immediately knocked out, problems in the second lap for Borsoi (Toyota) and a third for Tomasini (Suzuki). So the Italian is in command of Alfano ahead of Bordonaro, the two fighting for the national T2 and Challenge Suzuki. First stage dominated by Scandola (Polaris) in the TM Group ahead of Ventura and Vagaggini (Yamaha) then penalized and thus fifth in the ranking. In the TH he drives Ceschin (Nissan) in Grossi (Land Rover) and Cantarello (Isuzu), while the Italian leader Grandi (Nissan) travels seventh
The first stage of the Italian Baja d’Autunno was full of surprises and pitfalls for the 39 crews at the start. Track shortened from 26 to 23 km after the heavy rains of recent days and a show concentrated at Valvadrom, in the area of the Mosole di Valvasone quarry, easily reachable north of the Ponte della Delizia. After today's three laps on the selective sector "Lupus in Fabula", the Piedmontese crew composed of Andrea Alfano and Carmen Marsiglia, with a time of 1:01: 19 '' ahead of Alfio Bordonaro and Marcello Bono with a 4 '' gap, both on Suzuki Grand Vitara fighting for the single-make Challenge and the national T2 dedicated to Production vehicles.
The announced duel was expected between the new Italian champion Elvis Borsoi (Toyota Toyodell) and Andrea Dalmazzini (Suzuki New Grand Vitara) who had just won the gravel rally championship. Instead, the young man from Modena stopped immediately in the first lap due to a broken gearbox while Borsoi damaged the hub of a wheel in the second lap, losing an eternity. As soon as he conquered the provisional record, Andrea Tomasini from Pordenone with the second official Suzuki ran into an excursion in the third sector, falling seventh at 4'31 ''. Too much heat at the crucial moment and the gap almost impossible to bridge tomorrow, in the two passages on the “Mosole” sector (start at 9:00 and 11:30), in practice the reverse path compared to today.
But the most uncertain challenge concerns the Side by Side, the TM Group that has strongly fleshed out the members of the championship. Challenge to the agony of vehicles and men in the last and decisive appointment. Yesterday Graziano Scandola with his Polaris really went "Razor" always being the fastest in the three laps: total of 58'04 '' keeping behind Amerigo Ventura's Quaddy Yamaha (at 57 '') and Mauro Vagaggini who at the end of the stage due to penalties he found himself fifth (at 5'41 ''). The driver from Cordenon will therefore be forced to make a difficult comeback to earn third place which (if Scandola is first and Ventura second) would be enough for him to secure the national title. In front of Vagaggini tonight there are Franco Ricci, third at 4’37 '' and Alessandro Tinaburri fourth at 4’47 ''. Worthy of note is the good performance of the very young Alessando Altoé (another Yamaha), paired with his mentor Angelo Montico, even if due to penalties they slipped eighth at 8'41 ''. In the TH Group, vehicles of expired homologation, the Venetian Francesco Ceschin (Nissan Navara) leads the troop in 1:04:34 '' ahead of Simone Grossi (Land Rover) behind by 20 '' and Mauro Cantarello (Isuzu) in 31 ''.
The opponents are far behind, seventh at 14'38 '' Augusto Grandi (Nissan), a position that would still make him win the category trophy even if Grossi wins. Awards ceremony tomorrow at Valvadrom in the early afternoon. (2 pm).
RUOSO AND ACE01. Among the curiosities of the Italian Autumn Baja is the brand new Ktm 450 Rally by Alessandro Ruoso as a trailblazer, the bike with which the Aviano biker will face the next Dakar in January. At the end of the race, however, the new Ace01, or the super quad (8-liter engine and 680 horsepower) made by Pier Acerni that could debut in cross country at the Baja di Primavera (March 2018) with a new TX Group.
Carlo Ragogna Italian Baja Press Office
