Al-Khulaifi seals quad success; Barton/Biton win SSV section.
Jordan Baja
FIM Bajas World Cup, round 1
February 17-19, 2022
The first round of the FIM Bajas World Cup took place over two days in the magnificent desert of Wadi Rum and neighbouring Wadi Araba in southern Jordan. After 662km of racing, Mohammed Al-Balooshi (KTM) claimed victory at the Jordan Baja for the third successive year, while the laurels went to Abdulmajeed Al-Khulaifi (Yamaha) in the quads and to the Israeli crew of Roy Barton and Guy Biton (Can-Am) in SSV.
waste too much time opening the track since I was starting first. I obviously got caught up and the navigation was not easy but I managed to minimise the gap and finish second, 40 seconds behind. Today, I just had to catch up with Abdullah Abu Aishah, but the special was not easy because the navigation was even more difficult than on the first day and we suffered terrible heavy rain which greatly reduced visibility. But now, I have my third medal and I am very happy!”
Abdullah Abu Aishah finished second, ahead of Abdullah Al-Shatti and the Qatar-based Australian rider Martin Chalmers, who was taking part in the Jordan Baja for the first time: “I only live in Qatar and this is the first time I have taken part in the Jordan Baja. Finishing fourth behind the best riders in the world is amazing. It was wonderful, even if I didn't have time to enjoy the sumptuous landscapes!”
Quad category winner Al-Khulaifi said: “Thank god we finished first. The weather was spectacular. It was similar to Dakar stages. It was heavily raining, which made it difficult to see. We ran into many difficulties, the steering broke, but we finished first.”
Less fortunate was rider number 17, Nir Clumeck, who broke his collarbone on the first day and Abdulhalim Al-Mogeera (#6) and last year’s winning quad rider Haitham Al-Tuwayjiri (#100), who both had problems with their engines.
The two women, Alona Ben-Natan (GasGas) and Yael Kadshai (Husqvarna), finished 11th and 12th, respectively. The Veteran category was won by Shai Shapira (Husqvarna) and the Junior section by Zaid Jaber (KTM).
Results on Sportity code 22FIMWC
The second leg of FIM Bajas World Cup will take place in Qatar from 24th to 26th of March.
FIM Communications