History was made at the Baja Portalegre 500, once again in front of thousands of spectators! For the first time, a "spider" vehicle claimed victory in this off-road classic, thanks to the duo Miguel Barbosa/Paulo Fiúza (Taurus). It was also the first win for this type of vehicle in a round of the FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Bajas. After two days of intense competition on the dirt tracks of Alto Alentejo and Ribatejo, other highlights included the successes of Hélder Rodrigues (SSV), Martim Ventura (Motos), Luís Fernandes (Quads), Ricardo Silva (Promo & Hobby), and Bernardo Caiado (Mini Baja) in their respective categories. Nearly 400 teams took part in the event organized by the Automóvel Club de Portugal.
Originally developed as leisure vehicles, the SSVs, commonly known as "spiders," made their first competitive appearance at the Baja Portalegre 500 in 2008. Since then, they've gained popularity, thanks to their simple yet robust mechanics, growing competitiveness, and lower cost compared to traditional cars or prototypes built for off-road racing.
Sixteen years after their debut, a "spider" finally took the overall win at the Baja Portalegre 500, following the impressive feat of finishing on the podium in 2023.
Miguel Barbosa Wins Again in Autos, 17 Years Later
Miguel Barbosa, who last won the Baja Portalegre 500 in 2007, achieved this remarkable feat. "It couldn't have been better. We won and had a great race. Congratulations to the whole team and to Paulo (Fiúza), who did a fantastic job. It's my fourth win in this very special event," highlighted the ACP driver.
Driving a Polaris, the duo Gonçalo Guerreiro/José Sá Pires secured second place: "An excellent result, which we didn't even expect before the race. It was perfect in both the overall and T4 standings. I'm very happy. Thanks to the team and my co-driver," said the driver. The pair Paulo Jorge Rodrigues/José Cesana (CAN-AM) finished third: "We had a clean stage. The afternoon was truly spectacular. It's a very positive Portalegre for us," acknowledged the driver. Edgar Reis/Fábio Ribeiro (Taurus) took fourth place, followed by João Ferreira/Filipe Palmeira (Mini), the first among the T1+ cars. A flat tire and technical issues prevented the Leiria driver from fighting for the win, after having won the last two editions of the Baja Portalegre 500. João Dias and João Miranda, who were leading before the final selective stage, were forced to retire with a broken Can-Am transmission at km 69 of Selective Stage 3.
Hélder Rodrigues Wins the SSV for the Second Consecutive Year
After a notable career on two wheels, Hélder Rodrigues (CAN-AM) has focused on the SSVs to continue his racing career. In this year's edition of the Baja Portalegre 500, the Lisbon native repeated last year’s victory. "Yesterday didn’t go well. I was only fast in the prologue, but then I lost a lot of time. Today, the race was long and tough. I kept attacking, staying focused, and in the end, I managed to win. It feels great to win again." Just 58.9 seconds behind was the duo Tiago Guerreiro/Carlos Paulino (Polaris), with the driver stating: "I'm very happy. This is my sixth time doing Portalegre, and it's the first time I've finished. The car was always flawless. In the end, we passed some competitors and then got passed again; I didn't quite understand. But we're very happy with this podium." After securing the last spot on the podium, the duo André Carita/Nuno Abrantes (CAN-AM) confessed: "We gave it our all and did everything to finish in front. In the final part, we didn’t expect such long straights, and we didn’t have the car for more." Former national cross-country champion Pedro Grancha (alongside Tomás Neves) finished fourth, ahead of Nélson Caxias/Pedro Rodrigues (CAN-AM).
Martim Ventura's Debut Win in Motos
At 24 years old and two years after missing the top podium spot by a mere tenth of a second, Martim Ventura (Husqvarna) claimed his first win at the Baja Portalegre 500. "Winning here, after starting in Mini Baja at 11 years old, and becoming national champion at the same time, is a childhood dream come true. I dedicate this victory to my father and to Pinhel (mechanic), people I've lost but who were crucial in my life and career," said the ACP rider. Bruno Santos (Husqvarna) took second place, admitting: "Portalegre is always a lot of fun for me. This year it was wet, but not excessively, so we had good traction. Unfortunately, winning wasn't possible, but I made it back to the podium without injuries, which is important for the future. More news soon!" Despite falling "just near the finish line, at Coutadas," Micael Simão (Gas Gas) secured third, admitting: "It wasn't easy." After being the fastest on the opening day, a crash and throttle issues compromised António Maio's (Yamaha) ambitions for a ninth win in the race. The GNR military rider finished fourth, ahead of Tomás Dias (Honda).
Luís Fernandes Claims Second Win in Quads
Three years after his first win in Quads, Luís Fernandes (Yamaha) repeated the feat. "No words... I work so hard for this. I want to dedicate this victory to my family, especially my uncle and my grandfather, who are going through tough times. It was a very tough race... I lost the seat in the final part and suffered a bit. It's Portalegre!" The winner of the last two editions, João Vale (CAN-AM), settled for second place, stating: "Of course, I always want to win, anything less feels like a loss... However, I recovered many positions and managed to pass almost all my direct competitors. I finished second, and in terms of the championship, I remain in the same position. We’ll head into the final race aiming for the championship." Rodrigo Alves (Yamaha) took the last spot on the podium, but shared: "We did everything possible to win, but the bike sometimes struggled in the water. Next time will be better." Tiago Gomes (KTM) and Fábio Ferreira (ATVRacing) completed the top five.
Ricardo Silva Wins in Promo & Hobby
After being the fastest in the prologue, Ricardo Silva (Yamaha) maintained his dominance in the 166.20 km selective sector, finishing the race with more than a three-minute advantage over his closest rival. The battle for second place was thrilling, with André David (KTM) edging out Nelson Delgado (Honda) by just seven-tenths of a second. Luís Chavado (Husqvarna) and Daniel Russo (Bombardier) rounded out the top five, with the latter finishing as the top HobbySSV.
Bernardo Caiado Triumphs in Mini Baja
With participants aged between eight and sixteen years old, they represent the future of the sport—a future that looks very promising. This year’s Mini Baja set a new record with 35 young competitors. Thanks to their infectious enthusiasm, all should be considered winners, including Luís Brandão, who, just meters from the finish line, suffered a fall that required evacuation to the hospital. Young Bernardo Caiado (Gas Gas) took overall victory and first place in the Beginners category, saying: "It was a very positive race. The track was well-marked, very fun, and fast. I’m very happy." The battle for second place was closely contested, with Manuel Amaral (Yamaha) finishing just 3.5 seconds ahead. "It went well. A track with some more technical and twisty sections, but no scares. I reached the end in one piece," said the Juveniles category winner. Simão Severino (Yamaha) finished third, highlighting: "I really enjoyed the race. The layout was great, with good straights and few dangerous areas. The bike performed well. It was fun." Domingos Cunha (Yamaha) and Martim Caetano (Yamaha) completed the top five, while Santiago Pereira (Yamaha) won the Infants category.
The 38th edition of the Baja Portalegre 500 once again solidified the race as one of the most important and prestigious events on the FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Bajas calendar, with spectators showing up in large numbers once again. The award ceremony concluded the event in Portalegre this evening (Saturday).