With the Dakar Rally over less than two weeks ago in Saudi Arabia, the Saudi Baja is now hosting the FIM Bajas World Cup riders in the city of Ha’il.
Thirty motorcycles and six quads will set off for a new season of racing adventures with FIM Bajas World Cup titles at stake.
Mohammed Al-Balooshi (KTM) is the defending champion and has won the title on four occasions. The Emirati will be eager to defend his crown against teammate and rival Rafic Eid (KTM).
Young Alex McInnes (KTM) is the only registered Junior rider on this first Baja of the year but he will, undoubtedly, be seeking overall success. Also on the entry list are German rider Philippe Horleman (KTM), Abdulla Lanjawi (Kove) and Martin Chalmers, also on a Kove.
There will be 30 motorcycles in the FIM category, including one Junior, seven Veterans, and two Women: Joanna Modrzewska (Duust Husqvarna) and Kuwaiti rider Sarah Khuraibet.
In the quad category, defending champion Hani Al-Noumesi will face off against Haitham Al-Tuwayjiri, Abdulaziz Ahli, Ahmed Al-Jaber, Abdulrahman Alabdullatif and Abdulaziz Al-Atawi.
As was the case last year, the Saudi Baja’s headquarters will be located at the Millennium Hotel in Ha’il, while the service park, start, finish and parc fermé will be at Ha’il University.
On Wednesday morning (January 28th), competitors will undergo administrative checks at the Millennium Hotel and technical checks at the service park.
Competitors will be honoured as they take to the starting podium in Al-Maghwat from 12.30hrs on Thursday before tackling a 6.25km Prologue from 15.00hrs.
The results of the Prologue will, as usual, determine the starting order for the opening 242km special stage, which will begin in the early morning of January 30th.
On January 31st, competitors will tackle a second special stage of 151km before taking to the podium and attending the awards’ ceremony in Al-Maghwat in the evening.
All results and information are available on SPORTITY - code SB26FIM.