The return of the FIM Bajas World Cup to the Middle East benefitted Dubai’s Mohammed Al-Balooshi (KTM), who is much more comfortable on this type of desert terrain than on winding European tracks.
His victory at the Qatar International Baja strengthens his leading position in the World Cup before the last three rounds in Portugal, Jordan and Dubai.
The Baja began with a hot and rocky 10.01km Prologue, which was won by David Megre (Kawasaki), who finished ahead of Makis Rees-Stavros, Alex McInnes and another of Al-Balooshi’s rivals, Pedro Bianchi Prata (Honda). Al-Balooshi only finished 12th.
Friday’s stage was split into two specials of 123.91km and 122.50km through the stony deserts. In Qatar, the terrain is complicated and the precision of the navigation and reading the road book are as important as the pure speed of the rider.
For some riders, it was a Black Friday, as many got lost and missed waypoints. After the refuelling, James Hillier, Megre and Bianchi Prata set off again in search of a lost WP but penalties were incurred for several of them. Al-Shatti escaped unscathed and started Saturday’s stage trying to defend a lead of more than seven minutes over Badr Al-Hamdan, after the Saudi rider’s heavy overnight penalties were withdrawn on Saturday morning.
Saturday’s 251.10km stage wound through the southern Qatar desert and included a section of dunes near Sealine and the Inland Sea. Al-Shatti was soon pleased that Gregor Mikl and Poland’s Filip Grot had passed him and led the way after the start.
Hani Al-Noumesi © QMMF
FIM Veteran rider Andrew Houlihan and Canadian Matthew Glade retired with rear tyre mousse problems. Briton Robert Wallace, who had already struggled with his KTM, later stopped to support Mikl, who had crashed and was suffering from heat exhaustion.
After the pit stop, Al-Balooshi and Al-Shatti dropped their European pursuers and headed towards the dunes and the Inland Sea, over terrain that worked to their advantage. Al-Balooshi took the stage win and his second victory at the event by finishing ahead of his friend and team-mate Al-Shatti who suffered a gearbox problem but finished eighth on the stage.
Young Briton Alex McInnes completed the podium, while Polish rider Filip Grot and Rafic Eid finished fourth and fifth. The Portuguese duo of Bianchi Prata and Megre finished sixth and seventh. Isle of Man TT legend James Hillier came home in 10th.
In the quad category, Hani-Noumesi beat Abdulaziz Al-Atawi to take a commanding victory in his class with Abdulaziz Al-Shayban in third.
In the Junior category, McInnes (Husqvarna) won the race ahead of Grot (GasGas) and Hien (Husqvarna). Joanna Modrzewska (Duust Husqvarna) was the only woman to finish in 16th position. In the Veterans, Rafic Eid finished ahead of Bianchi Prata (Honda) and Chris Hamer (KTM).
The FIM Bajas World Cup continues next week in Portugal.