Baja España 2008. Preview
THE REPSOL TEAM READY FOR THE BAJA ESPAÑA-ARAGÓN
2008
Tomorrow, Thursday, the 25th edition of this race starts.
Roma, Alphand and Masuoka will defend the Repsol colours in
cars, and Coma, Viladoms and Farrés in motorbikes
The Ciudad del Motor in Alcañiz will be the setting
for the prologue stage of the 25th edition of the Baja España-Aragón,
and once again the Repsol drivers and riders will be fighting
to win the race, in both of the categories, cars and bikes.
The 25th edition will consist of seven special sections in
the Northern Spanish region of Aragón, almost 900km
of timed stretches where cars and bikes travel separately.
The specials will be covered by one of the modes in the morning
and the other in the afternoon and vice-versa.
In the car category there will be three Mitsubishis painted
in the Repsol colours. One for Nani Roma and his co-driver
Lucas Cruz, another for Luc Alphand and his compatriot Gilles
Picard in two Montero Evolution MPR13s, whilst Hiroshi Masuoka
and Pascal Maimon will compete in the Montero Evolution MPR14
with a diesel engine. The intention is to fight to repeat
the double obtained last year and in 2005, although as Dominique
Serieys, Team Manager del Repsol Mitsubishi Ralliart, says
“the objective is, in first place, that the team is
in form for the Dakar 2009, which will be in South America
next January, and second, to continue the development of the
Montero Evolution MPR14 with diesel engine.”
In motorbikes, there will also be three riders in the Repsol
colours. In first place, Marc Coma, who will be riding the
improved KTM 660 Baja that he used last year and one that
almost won him the race. Alongside him, Jordi Viladoms and
Gerard Farrés, last year`s winner, who will be on a
KTM 630 EXC, a smaller than usual enduro motorbike but one
which adapts itself better to the particularities of this
race.
Quotes
Cars
"Nani" Roma >>
“Our planning for the season included the Baja in the
MPR13, although I was lucky enough to try the MPR14 out in
the Transiberian. I immediately felt comfortable with the
driving style that this car requires, and I am proud of being
the first driver to win stages in it.
The pace of the Baja is faster than that of the Transiberian,
but I think the MPR14 is capable of putting in a good performance.
That does not mean that I am not going to try and win with
the petrol car, althougth it will not be easy because my rivals
are tough to beat, beginning with Luc Alphand, of course.
This is a race I know well; I won four times on a bike and
once in a car - 2005 with Mitsubishi. Moreover, this is very
close to my home, so I hope to put in a good performance this
year.”
Luc Alphand >>
“Obviously the Baja has changed, although I remember
things from my previous participation in this race. Motorsports
do not ever stop evolving, and the off-road rallies are no
exception. For example, the pace in the two races we have
participated in this year, the Central European Rally and
the Transiberian which I won, were much faster than in 2007.
This year`s Baja has some similarities with the Transiberian,
although the specials around Zaragoza should be faster. The
weather is generally much warmer and drier, and the dust in
the sections that are repeated can become a sort of fesh-fesh,
which will be a real challenge. I imagine that it will be
another hard fought race, although our objective is to win
again.”
Hiroshi Masuoka >>
“The last time that I participated in this race was
about fifteen years ago, and it was quite different. We have
just finished some very positive tests in the MPR14 with the
diesel engine, doing around 3 000km, and this means that we
have taken a big step forward.
The car has improved a lot since the Central European Rally,
especially the engine`s cooling system, which should now be
more powerful and reliable. In addition, I am delighted that
Pascal Maimon is 100% again after his latest ankle operation,
that he fractured in the Dakar Series. it would be fantastic
to get the first victory in this car.”
Motorcycling
Marc Coma >>
“For me the Baja is a special race, because I have been
haunted by a bad feeling about it since last year`s race and
the one two years ago, and what is more because this year
is its 25th anniversary and will have a long list of top class
riders participating. We consider this race as a great challenge.
It is a sprint, without navigation, where the most important
factor is the speed. Physically I am fine, above all after
the Rally in Brazil, where I went lacking a little competition
pace. It was a long tough race that helped me a lot, one that
helped me recover fitness and find some form. Most riders
will go with an enduro bike equipped with a large tank, but
I will go with a specially prepared KTM to do Bajas, based
on the motorcycle for raids which is what I feel most comfortable
on. It is a motorcycle that is very effective in the fast
zones, but perhaps it will not be as good as the others in
the slow zones.”
Jordi Viladoms >>
“We came back from Brazil a short time ago and we carried
on working without thinking too much about the Baja. What
is more this year many top level riders are going to participate,
and everybody is very motivated, preparing the race very carfefully.
Regarding ourselves, we have done everything possible to arrive
in the best form, and we have been training for a few days
on the same small motorbike that we used in Sardinia, this
is the one that we will ride here. The truth is that I am
already dying to start because it is a race near my home,
and the Baja is always special. It is a sprint, without any
time to rest, because in the races with more navigation you
must normally slow down to follow the roadbook. Here you ride
much more but above all you must ride carefully on the specials
that the cars have passed through because all the dust goes
back on the tracks and a sort of fesh-fesh is created, this
covers dangerous rocks and holes .”
Gerard Farrés >>
“I am very pleased to be able to participate in this
race. It is the first since I got injured in Sardinia, and
that means that I am fit again. Although we will have to see
exactly where we are physically, because I have been quite
a long time without competing.
I will ride the KTM 630, perhaps it lacks a bit of power,
but on the other hand referring to the traction, it is a motorbike
that works very well. The objective will also be to win, although
we know that this year a lot of very good riders will be competing,
since in addition to those that are always favourites, the
French are coming, and they go very fast. We will have to
keep an eye on riders like Cyril Despres, David Casteau and
David Frétigné, and see what their performance
is like because perhaps they do not know this race as well
as local riders, like Pellicer, who last year showed that
he can ride fast here.”
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