After bringing the first-ever Dakar Rally Bedouin to Lithuania, Rokas Baciuška is getting ready for new off-road battles.
Currently among the top three riders in the World Rally Raid Cup in the SSV standings, Lithuanian Sports University (LSU) Sports and tourism management student will compete in the second round of the World Championships in Abu Dhabi from March 5 to 10.
In the United Arab Emirates capital, Baciuška will compete alongside car aces Nasser Al-Attiyah, Sebastien Loeb, and Stephane Peterhansel, and will try to overtake American Austin Jones and Poland’s Marek Goczal in the SSV standings.
” There is more work to do as the season progresses. There are still four rounds of the World Championships in Kazakhstan, Andalusia, Morocco, and Abu Dhabi. We want to continue our participation as we are third in the overall standings. We will try our best to achieve high results and rewrite history, ” he said.
In January, he met the LSU community and competed in the world’s toughest marathon, the Dakar Rally. His debut was more successful than expected – he managed to win two out of twelve stages in the T4 class, and on the last day, the LSU student secured third place in the overall standings.
” I asked myself when someone would notice me because I have the talent, but also the drive to work hard, ” he said with a smile. – We decided to go to the Dakar Rally to get noticed and the Dakar ended very well. People were talking and are still talking, and on the last day, in so few kilometers, we still managed to make it to the podium. “
Sports and tourism management student at the Lithuanian Sports University believes that to be able to compete at a level such as the Dakar Rally, you not only need to be fast but also to be able to attract sponsors. This, Baciuška says, is an art of its own.
” We work together with Ramūnas Fetingis, go to meetings with sponsors, we discuss how we can be useful to them through social media or press. I’m versatile, both as a driver and as a manager. I’m studying management studies and it’s very close to my heart because I’ve been doing it in practical terms so far, ” said the ” South Racing ” team member.
R. Fetingis, manager of R. Baciuška, also shared his experience with the LSU community. According to him, the eight-month preparation for the Dakar Rally was only the first part of the lengthy world championship, but there was no shortage of organizational challenges.
“I didn’t have anyone to learn from and I still don’t – I’m just doing it the way I imagine it might be done,” said the long-time member of the country’s motorsport community, “If someone is interested and wants to learn from my experience, then I’m always available to do that. We may not have done anything special here, but I can certainly tell you how to open one door or another – at least in my experience. “
