After first day in Russian rally raid championship “Riga Baja” the first two leader positions takes “RE Autoclub” sportsmen: Tapio Suominen and Markku Hurskainen from Finland with “Mitsubishi Pajero L2” and Latvians – Janis Naglis and Reinis Trups („Mitsubishi Pajero MPR 96”). Third best place in the competitions takes one more team from Latvia – Toms Brants and Martins Tuters with “OSCar”. Crucial races will be held tomorrow in Viesites surroundings.
The start for competition day was given in Jekabpils Vecpilsetas square, with 6km long super special stage in Jekabpils city streets. After this stage the first place took one of the “Riga Baja” favorite pilots – Vladimir Vasilyev (“G-Force Proto”). Vasilyev was five minutes ahead Suominen.
Continuing rally raid first day’s competitions, all crews for two times needed to face totally new 90km long Krustpils rally raid stage. Already after first Krustpils stage, Suominen took the leader positions. In the end of the day Finnish crew was seven minutes ahead second “RE Autoclub” crew – Janis Naglis and his 17 years old co-pilot Reinis Trups. Naglis and his co-pilot is only 21 second ahead “Riga Baja” 3rd place crew – Toms Brants and Martins Tuters. 4th place takes best Russian pilot Sergey Savenko, who is also Russian rally raid championship absolute leader so far.
Last 4th and 5th stages will be held on September 23rd at 9:40am and 12:00pm in Viesites off-roads. The official “Riga Baja 2012” awarding ceremony will be at 6:40pm in Jekabpils Vecpilsetas square.
In year 2010, Russian sportsman Boriss Gadasin („Nissan Pick Up”) became champion of „Riga Baja”. He raced under the Russian team flag – „G-Force Motorsport”. With 6 minutes and 30 seconds he was ahead his closest competitor Janis Naglis („RE Autoclub”/„Mitsubishi Pajero”). In third place was Aleksander Mironenko („Nissan Frontier”).
In „Riga Baja 2011”, which began in Riga and next two days continued in Jekabpils, Salas and Viesite surroundings, champion title was won by Russian pilot Aleksander Zheludov („Nissan Frontier”, „Protechsport”). Zheludov was ahead of his closest competitor Bogdan Novicki („G-Force Proto”, „Kievrallyraid”) with 4 minutes and 13 seconds. Best of the Latvian sportsman was Raivis Zeltins with „Mitsubishi Pajero EVO”, who won 3rd place in absolute.
