Baja 2010: Josef Machacek triumphs in the quad category

There are those who say that four wheels are "easier" than two, but when we talk about vehicles with displacements that reach 1000 cc, with power up to 90 hp, launched at over 130 km/h on the bed of a river , we can assure you that the adjective “easy” sounds like a euphemism. The quad and ATV pilots who gathered for the 17th edition of the Italian Baja, which took place in Pordenone from 18 to 21 March, know something about it. The Friulian magredi hosted 37 crews, confirming that the Baja formula attracts, due to its spectacular characteristics, an ever-increasing number of centaurs, coming from the most diverse motoring disciplines. If we add the scrupulous organization, handled as expected by TOP srl, led by Mauro Tavella, in collaboration with the Fuoristrada Club 4×4 Pordenone and the Moto Club QuadForQuad, we can state with certainty that the Italian Baja 2010 has once again declared the caliber of the event, followed with ever greater interest and passion by fans, media and accredited journalists.

Friday, 16pm: the young Portuguese burns the “Rauscedo” super special and wins pole position for the following morning. Followed by Denis Rossetto, in excellent form, Josef Machacek and the Spaniard Gonzales, who broke the radiator in an attempt to overtake an opponent, and had to settle for 50th place on the grid. The PS4 stopwatch starts at 2:10 the next day, bikes and quads mixed up by the verdict of the prologue, ready to enter the deep tracks left shortly before by T00 and T1 of the FIA ​​race. The selection is almost obvious: on the "straights" of the countryside and on the treacherous riverbeds, power and experience command. Machacek lets the Portuguese boy understand that before winning he has to cross riverbeds, and with the Raptor powered by a TDM 2 engine he takes off towards victory in the special stage, with a gap on the second (compatriot Kubiena) of 900'1”. Sette, Rossetto, Acurcio and Plechatý try, and they are also good, given that they stay
within the 3 minute gap. Behind them, duels begin between the pursuers, aware that a rise in the rankings depends only on mistakes or failures by the big names. Fortunately, sportsmanship and passion are not lacking, and no one throws in the towel, on the contrary. n PS3 Acurcio listens to his instincts and recovers up to second position, bringing himself to a partial gap of 1'28”. Rossetto doesn't give up for a moment, looking at the Italian ranking and the 5 damn seconds lost last year in Melfi; Katrinak overtakes Kubiena and Sette, who crosses the finish line in 6th place. Then Plechatý, Toro still 8th, Gonzales down by two, Laskawiec and Paris up by one, Sabine Pulz begins to gain confidence with the new machine, after years of KTM monogamy, and recovers by three positions. The reigning Italian champion, Massimiliano Masante, 9th in SS2, crashes just one kilometer from the end, exits the special stage in 22nd place and is taken to hospital. He suffers some fractures without compromising results, but according to the pilot himself, yes
will present itself at the starting line as soon as possible.

Final ranking in leg 1: First Machacek, with 1:27'11”, followed by Rossetto (1:31'00”) and Acurcio (1:31'09”). Fourth Seven, at 4'10”, fifth the Czech Plechatý at 5'50”.

It seems that in the evening, at dinner, someone said to the young Portuguese: "Speed ​​up!" And Rafa, the next day, on PS4, executes and scores a 45'14" which brings him 40" behind the unattainable Dakarian. Sette also gives his all, overtaking his teammate Rossetto, and chasing the Czech by just 48". Kubiena moves up to 5th position; Gonzales, regular after the failure in the super special, exits SS4 in 6th, Plechatý and Toro, equally regular, close the group of the few pursuers capable of undermining the leaders. Massimo Rondanini, who arrived in Pordenone on Sunday to race the Baja Sprint, surprisingly slipped into 9th position, and brought his Suzuki LTR 450 ahead of the KTMs of the Poles Laskawiec and Rostowski. The old duel between Fossà and Pulz sees the former in front.
After regrouping and assistance we return to the competition field: same route, starting at 11. Once again inside the bed of the Tagliamento, to go up to its tributary Cosa, which is taken against traffic and abandoned just before Spilimbergo, to dive into the graves planted with vineyards. No one ever sees Machacek. Perhaps his compatriot Kubiena is feeling the dust, given that he reaches 30", thanks to the power of his Suzuki 33. Acurcio keeps to 1000", and risks overtaking Rossetto, just 48". Seven, Plechatý and Toro remain above the minute mark, Rondanini gains a position, and places himself ahead of Laskawiec, Gonzales and Rostowski. SS3, identical to the previous one, was suspended by the Race Direction for safety reasons: the threat of rain and poor visibility suggested to the stewards to bring back the drivers who, despite their desire to race, accepted the verdict. The second day also ends, with Machacek in the lead (6:1'28”), followed by Acurcio (40:1'30”), by the excellent Sette (08:1'30”), who leads Rossetto by 33” and Kubiena 6”.

Machacek raises the race and class victory cups to the skies Q4 (2:55'51”). Acurcio is second in the overall standings (3:01'17”), Rossetto third (3:01'39”), Sette fourth (3:02'54”), Plechatý fifth (3:05'17”), Toro sixth (3:06'04”). Team MGM wins the dedicated ranking.