Team Bianchi Prata is experiencing a difficult Baja Portalegre after fighting for the victory.
João Duarte finished sixth overall and made it to the podium in both the TT2 and Junior categories. Gustavo Gaudêncio battled for the win until a crash in the final kilometers.
Team Bianchi Prata finished the 40th Baja Portalegre 500 with João Duarte in sixth place overall in the motorcycle category, third in TT2, and second among the Juniors. The team was also in contention for the overall victory with Gustavo Gaudêncio, who recovered from the first day's deficit and took the provisional lead before a crash a few kilometers from the finish forced him to retire.
Held on October 16th and 17th, this edition was marked by the heat, dry terrain, and heavy dust, which hampered visibility and made overtaking difficult. In the main motorcycle and quad bike race, the riders faced a course of 508.73 kilometers, of which 352.52 were timed.
Gustavo Gaudêncio finished the first day in second position, 17 seconds behind the leader. In SS2, he recovered that difference and moved into the lead in the provisional standings, keeping his objective of winning Portalegre alive. A fall in the final stage interrupted this performance and prompted the intervention of the rescue teams.
Among the remaining official riders, João Pires and João Miranda finished the race in fifth and sixth place in the Veterans Motos category, respectively. Rui Ferreira “Panda” made his 26th appearance in Portalegre, all of which he finished. Mariuxi Taranto suffered a fall at kilometer 20 of SS2, resulting in a broken arm, forcing her to abandon the race.
In addition to the six official riders, the team supported 13 customer riders, including participants with team bikes and riders with assistance for their own bikes, in the motorcycle, quad, and Mini Baja categories.
According to Pedro Bianchi Prata, team manager , the assessment reflects both the results achieved and the concern for the riders who suffered crashes:
“It was a weekend of very strong emotions. We had good results, podium finishes, and we showed that we were in Portalegre to fight for victory. Gustavo came very close to realizing his dream and that of the whole team. We are proud of the work of our drivers and the dedication of the entire structure. We want to win races, but above all, we want our drivers to finish and be well.”
OFFICIAL PILOTS OF TEAM BIANCHI PRATA
Gustavo Gaudêncio Honda CRF250RX — Withdrawal from SS2
“Winning Portalegre is a dream and this year we were very close. I gave it my all. I want to thank everyone who helped me at the crash site, the rescue teams, and my team for all their support. Thank you also for the messages of encouragement and well wishes.”
João Duarte Honda CRF450RX — 6th overall | 3rd TT2 | 2nd Juniors
“It was a very different Baja, with a lot of dust and dry terrain. On the first day I didn't feel confident on the bike; on the second I was better, but the dust made overtaking very difficult. I managed to finish without problems. I wish Mariuxi, Barrocas and Gustavo a speedy recovery. Thank you to the team, who were tireless. See you in Castelo Branco.”
João Pires Honda CRF250RX — 31st overall | 8th TT1 | 5th Veterans Motorcycles
“Another Portalegre race successfully completed. The dust made the race tough, but I managed to achieve my goal of finishing without crashes or mishaps. It was good to be back with my teammates. Thank you to Team Bianchi Prata, five stars as always. I wish Barrocas, Mariuxi, and Gustavo a speedy recovery.”
João Miranda Honda CRF450RX — 33rd overall | 18th TT2 | 6th Veterans Motorcycles
"It should have been a happy day, but it wasn't. Get well soon to Barrocas, Gustavo, and Mariuxi."
Rui Ferreira “Panda” Honda CRF490RX — 76th overall | 10th TT3 | 19th Veterans Motorcycles
“A very tough and treacherous race, which I tried to manage as best as possible. It was my 26th participation in Portalegre and I finished them all. On a difficult day for the team, I send a big hug to Gustavo and wish a speedy recovery to everyone who fell. Thank you to my sponsors and all the staff at Offroad Center for yet another opportunity.”
Mariuxi Taranto Honda CRF450RX — Retirement in SS2
“My goal was to finish the race and continue improving my times. Unfortunately, I fell, broke my arm, and have to end the season. I am very grateful to the Bianchi Prata team for all their help throughout this year. Thank you also to the organization and the Crato Fire Department for the speed with which they assisted me. I wish Gustavo and Barrocas a speedy recovery.”
CUSTOMER RIDERS WITH TEAM MOTORCYCLES
Nuno Almeida, Flávio Jacinto, and Samuel Isabel finished the Baja using motorcycles provided by the team. For Flávio, this was his debut in this type of competition. In the Mini Baja, Saif Alketbi also made his competitive debut, using his own motorcycle and with the support of the team.
Nuno Almeida — 48th overall | 27th TT2 | 10th Veterans Motorcycles
“Another legendary Baja, which went very well, despite the heavy dust and hard surface. I managed to finish without crashing. I want to thank the Bianchi Prata team and all the drivers for their support. Get well soon, Gustavo.”
Flávio Jacinto Honda CRF450RX — 59th overall | 33rd TT2
“It was my first race of this kind and the realization of a childhood dream. After so many years following the races, the Dakar Rally, and Pedro Bianchi Prata's journey, it was an honor to be part of this team. My goal was to reach the finish line, and I did it. Thank you to all the staff for their help, advice, and kindness. I wish our riders a speedy recovery.”
Samuel Isabel — 87th overall | 48th TT2
“As an amateur rider, my goal is always to finish and return the bike in the same condition as I received it. I was challenged by my friend Flávio Jacinto and we both managed to finish. I leave Portalegre tired, but very happy. Thank you to the team for their kindness and availability, to my family and friends for their support. Best of luck to the colleagues who suffered crashes.”
Saif Alketbi Honda CRF110F — Mini Baja | 12th MB1
Karina, Saif's mother:
“It was a pleasure to be part of Team Bianchi Prata at this Baja Portalegre. A special thank you to Bruno for all the support to SaiF, who had a lot of fun. We know the challenges of the competition and have enormous respect for Pedro's work. We wish a speedy recovery to the injured drivers and hope to return next year.”
Customer riders with their own motorcycles and team assistance.
The team also provided assistance to nine drivers with their own vehicles. In the motorcycle category, Gonçalo Maria finished the first Baja of his career, and João Santos completed his first race with assistance from Team Bianchi Prata. Mouzinho Cardoso managed to finish despite a transmission problem, while Januário Barrocas was forced to retire after a fall in the prologue.
In the quads category, Bruno Pereira secured second place in the Veterans division, despite a battery problem. Ricardo Caetano finished fourth overall, having to go to the hospital after a fall in the final part of the race. Bruno Pinto achieved his goal of finishing. In the Mini Baja, Rodrigo Silva once again reached the finish line after retiring due to a fall in his previous participation.
Renato Mendes Honda CRF250RX — 39th overall | 10th TT1 | 7th Veterans Motorcycles
“I came in with the goal of finishing, due to the injury I suffered at the X-Trophy in Barcelos about two weeks ago. I couldn't train, but I gave it my best. The dust and the dry terrain were the biggest obstacles. Thank you to all the staff at Team Bianchi Prata and speedy recovery to Gustavo, Mariuxi and Barrocas.”
Mouzinho Cardoso Honda CRF450RX — 94th overall | 51st TT2
“It was a different Baja than usual, without water, with dry and treacherous terrain. I started well, but then I had to do about 80 kilometers with a twisted chain and without a guide, at about 30 km/h until the next service point. It was tough, but I managed to finish. Thanks to the team, which was five stars, and speedy recovery to my colleagues.”
João Santos — 61st overall | 35th TT2
“It was my first race with Team Bianchi Prata and I managed to finish. Thank you to the whole team for their hard work and support during these days.”
Gonçalo Maria — 24th overall | 13th TT2 | 5th Juniors
"It was my first Baja and I managed to finish a very demanding race. Thank you to the team and everyone who supported me in this debut."
Januário Barrocas Honda CRF450RX — Withdrawal in the prologue
“My participation didn’t go as I wished, due to a fall at the end of the prologue. The goal was to finish and have fun, but these situations are also part of racing and are learning moments. Thank you to Team Consilcar, Pedro Bianchi Prata’s preparation and support team, my colleagues, sponsors, and everyone who supported me. Now it’s time to recover and prepare for the next challenges. A big hug and wishes for a speedy recovery to Gustavo.”
Ricardo Caetano — Quads | 4th overall
“I managed to finish the race, but I fell towards the end and had to go to the hospital. Thank you to everyone who helped me and to the team for their support.”
Bruno Pereira — Quads | 18th overall | 2nd Veterans Quads
“The battery problem caused me to lose a lot of time and compromised my fight for victory in my class. Still, I finished second in the Veterans category. Thanks to the team for their support.”
Bruno Pinto — Quads | 17th overall
“My goal was to finish the Baja Portalegre and I achieved it. Thank you to the team and to everyone who supported me.”
Rodrigo Silva — Mini Baja | 12th overall in the Junior category | 11th MB5
“I’m very happy to have finished, after having to drop out of the previous race due to a fall. Thank you to my parents, the team, and everyone for their support.”
In closing, Pedro Bianchi Prata expressed his gratitude for the work of the support team and the response of the emergency services, while also appealing for respect for the pilots and their families:
"Thank you to all our staff, pilots, clients, partners, and families for your trust and work during these days. It was also a weekend in which we remembered Jorge Brandão, one year after his death."
I want to especially thank the public who were at the scene of Gustavo's fall, including the nurses and firefighters who helped him immediately. Thank you to the organization and rescue teams for the speed of their response, with the arrival of the ambulance and the mobilization of the helicopter with doctors. This promptness deserves to be recognized.
Thank you for all the messages of support. We wish Gustavo, Mariuxi, Januário, and Ricardo a speedy recovery. The health of our drivers is more important than any result.
I make a sincere request: please stop sharing the video of Gustavo's fall. Whoever posted it, please remove it; whoever finds it, please report it to the platform. Respect Gustavo and his family. A person's health and dignity are worth much more than likes or views.”
Team Bianchi Prata's next event - Baja de Castelo Branco, from November 13th to 15th.
Text: Team Bianchi Prata
Photos: Team Bianchi Prata / @kora.hq