Maio and Patrão play around while Vivas attacks

01 novembro 2013

The Prologue marked the start of the 27th edition of the Baja Portalegre 500. As always, riders faced the 5.5 km of the SSS1, setting the stage for the last round of the Off-Road National Championship, the title decider.
With the Super Special Stage defining the starting order for tomorrow’s Special Stage, and with the decision of the Championship at stake, the main contenders of the ACP Motorsport event, António Maio and Mário Patrão, opted to play the strategy card and stop along the way, although both stated at the end that the more than 13-minutes delay had been due to technical problems on their bikes.
In this way, the main favourites for the victory ended up finishing last, Patrão in 96th and Maio in 97th, therefore starting from the very end of the pack and having to do a race from last to first.
With the tactics of the favourites turning out to be the greatest surprise of the day, the fight for the first spot on this opening day of the Baja Portalegre was a very exciting one. João Vivas was the strongest and assured the first spot on his second presence at the event. Riding a Yamaha 450, the Alentejo rider took 4m33,50s to do the SSS1, almost six seconds faster than last year’s winner of the Prologue, Luís Oliveira.
“I made a very good SSS1; it was very good to win in front of my fans. I had a problem with the clutch handle around half the stage, it moved out of place, and I wasn’t able to make it work. But in the end I managed the situation well,” stated Vivas at the end of the stage.
Third spot went to Henrique Nogueira, once again with a TM 300 with which he lost mere three tenths of a second to Oliveira and his Yamaha. “I did not want to attack. This is not my strong point and this year I was out much of the time. I gave my best and got what I wanted: starting amongst the front riders tomorrow,” said Nogueira.
Fourth spot went to Maio’s teammate, Frederico Fino, while Domingos Santos rounded up the Top 10 and led the TT1 class riders. This was, no doubt, a good omen for the rider since he is also fighting for this crown.
Riders are now finishing their preparation towards the long marathon of the Baja Portalegre 500, which will be held tomorrow, with about 400 km.
The duel between Mário Patrão and António Maio should be the main attraction on tomorrow’s race; the winner will be the 2013 Champion.
The Prologue marked the start of the 27th edition of the Baja Portalegre 500. As always, riders faced the 5.5 km of the SSS1, setting the stage for the last round of the Off-Road National Championship, the title decider.

With the Super Special Stage defining the starting order for tomorrow’s Special Stage, and with the decision of the Championship at stake, the main contenders of the ACP Motorsport event, António Maio and Mário Patrão, opted to play the strategy card and stop along the way, although both stated at the end that the more than 13-minutes delay had been due to technical problems on their bikes.

In this way, the main favourites for the victory ended up finishing last, Patrão in 96th and Maio in 97th, therefore starting from the very end of the pack and having to do a race from last to first.

With the tactics of the favourites turning out to be the greatest surprise of the day, the fight for the first spot on this opening day of the Baja Portalegre was a very exciting one. João Vivas was the strongest and assured the first spot on his second presence at the event. Riding a Yamaha 450, the Alentejo rider took 4m33,50s to do the SSS1, almost six seconds faster than last year’s winner of the Prologue, Luís Oliveira.

“I made a very good SSS1; it was very good to win in front of my fans. I had a problem with the clutch handle around half the stage, it moved out of place, and I wasn’t able to make it work. But in the end I managed the situation well,” stated Vivas at the end of the stage.

Third spot went to Henrique Nogueira, once again with a TM 300 with which he lost mere three tenths of a second to Oliveira and his Yamaha. “I did not want to attack. This is not my strong point and this year I was out much of the time. I gave my best and got what I wanted: starting amongst the front riders tomorrow,” said Nogueira.

Fourth spot went to Maio’s teammate, Frederico Fino, while Domingos Santos rounded up the Top 10 and led the TT1 class riders. This was, no doubt, a good omen for the rider since he is also fighting for this crown.

Riders are now finishing their preparation towards the long marathon of the Baja Portalegre 500, which will be held tomorrow, with about 400 km.

The duel between Mário Patrão and António Maio should be the main attraction on tomorrow’s race; the winner will be the 2013 Champion.

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