Dubai International Baja
FIM Bajas World Cup, round 8
December 1-3, 2022
The Dubai International Baja rounded off the FIM Bajas season with a bang and delivered an intense and action-packed two-day race. _
Poland’s Konrad Dabrowski won both the FIM Bajas Motorcycle and Junior World Cups, Mirjam Pol claimed the laurels in the Women’s category, Pedro Bianchi Prata triumphed in the Veterans’ section and Abdulmajeed Al-Khulaifi topped the quads.
On Friday’s first special, local star Mohammed Al-Balooshi (KTM) was confronted with mechanical problems and saw his hopes of lifting the title disappear in the sand of the Al Qudra desert.
His main opponent Fabio Magalhães (Honda) experienced navigational problems and found himself without fuel and decided to retire after the first day.
That paved the way for Konrad Dabrowski (Husqvarna), who was third in the FIM Bajas World Cup before Dubai, to reap the benefits and the young Pole found himself in line for the title after the opening day.
Not only did the leaders find themselves in difficulty on the first stage, but a new star sprang from the back of the field to upset the hierarchy. Starting 29th and relatively unknown to the Baja regulars, young Austrian rider Tobias Ebster (Husqvarna) emerged to win the first stage.
On Saturday, he opened the track and was quickly caught by Dabrowski, but remained cautiously in touch with the experienced Pole to the end of the special, finishing third behind Al-Balooshi - who suffered better fortunes on the last day - and Dabrowski.
Ebster duly clinched his first Baja victory from Dabrowski and third-placed Maki Rees-Stavros.
In the Women’s category, after her recent rally-raid title, Mirjam Pol (Husqvarna) claimed victory in Dubai and won the championship.
Faithful to cross-country rallies for 30 years, Pedro Bianchi Prata (Honda) has distinguished himself all season by winning the Baja do Oeste and Baja Portalegre to wrap up the season in Dubai with the FIM Bajas World Cup Veterans’ title.
In quads, Abdulaziz Al-Ahli (Yamaha) won the Dubai Baja hands down from Abdulmajeed Al-Khulaifi, the winner of the FIM Quad Bajas World Cup, and fellow Saudi rival Hani Al-Noumesi.
FIM Communications