Qatar’s Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah and Polish junior rider Konrad Dąbrowski set the fastest times in the car and motorcycle categories on Thursday afternoon’s opening 9.20km Qualifying Stage of the Qatar International Baja.
A time of 5min 11.8sec made Al-Attiyah and Mathieu Baumel the early leaders of round two of the FIA Middle East Cup for Cross-Country Bajas. The defending Dakar champion took his latest-specification Toyota Hilux to a 4.3-second lead over team-mate Yazeed Al-Rajhi.
A good start because it was not easy in a narrow place. I think we did a good job without any mistakes. Tomorrow will be much faster. Maybe it’s better for me to start first. I don’t want to be behind the Can-Am. Maybe it will be more dusty. We will see.
Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah
Happy we finish because the car switch off a few times. I think electric problem. But we only lose 4.3 seconds. We pushed very well. We continue to push. Most important for me is to enjoy. That’s why I came here.
Yazeed Al-Rajhi
Dąbrowski quickest on two wheels
Dąbrowski, son of former cross-country rider and driver Marek, clocked 6min 01.3sec to lead the motorcycle and junior categories on his Husqvarna FR450. With times multiplied by a coefficient of four, the Pole heads into the night halt of round two of the FIM Bajas World Cup with a comfortable lead and the choice of a good starting position for Friday.
Emirati Mohammed Al-Balooshi was second and Britain’s Maki Rees-Stavros third. Kuwait’s Abdullah Al-Shatti and Jordan’s Abdullah Abu Aishah were fourth and fifth, and Poland’s Joanna Modrzewska was the leading woman in 14th.
This is one of the toughest events you can tackle on a bike. The navigation is exceptionally difficult, especially when you are competing against the clock. I should know, I’ve had good results and I’ve also been evacuated by helicopter in the past. Riders will also need to be very careful on Friday when we do the second stage after the cars. There are sure to be ruts and tracks in the softer places and that will make it even more tricky for the bikes.
Defending Qatar Baja champion Mohammed Al-Balooshi
Meeke and Sordo impress
Andorra-based Ulsterman Kris Meeke made a strong start in his Nasser Racing Can-Am, setting third fastest time with Frenchman François Cazalet to lead FIA T3. Former WRC team-mate and desert debutant Dani Sordo was fifth overall and second in T3.
I have never been in this situation where all the categories are linked together. I had half an idea that I would be ninth or 10th fastest, which means you are opening the road. I didn’t want to end up playing the game. Today was totally different to what we can expect tomorrow. Today we made pace notes, so it was half a rally stage, half a cross-country stage. I did the whole Dakar in an open car. The temperatures today were not so bad. I enjoyed it. The South Racing Can-Am is so nice. It’s balanced and everything works correctly.
Kris Meeke
It is difficult to find the point to turn in to the corners (open desert). I need to know how much you can go out when the waypoint is coming. The only problem is the corners never arrive… We had a problem with the sun (vision). But it’s good fun. Fifth today but we want more…
Dani Sordo
Khalifa Saleh Al-Attiyah was sixth overall and leads Sadoon Al-Kuwari by 24.3 seconds in FIA T4, while Saudi Arabia’s Muneef Al-Shammeri leads T2.
Hani Al-Noumesi edged ahead of fellow Saudis Faisal Al-Suwayh and Abdulmajeed Al-Khulaifi in the quads. Belgium’s Emiel Stuckens struggled to start his quad but went on to finish fourth.
Eighteen FIA vehicles, including 11 in T3 and three in T4, started, plus six in the National Baja. Miroslav Zapletal, Saleh Al-Saif, Khalid Al-Feraihi and Mohammed Al-Tuwaijri were among those unable to attend, and Abdullah Al-Rabban was moved to the National Baja after his Jeep failed to meet the latest safety regulations.
The FIM start list featured 22 motorcycles, four quads, an SSV and 16 more riders in a National Baja. Germany’s Philip Horlemann, Australia’s Simon Francis and several Saudi riders, including quad entrants Abdulaziz Al-Atawi and Sultan Al-Masoud, did not start. Qatar-based Australian Martin Chalmers withdrew with a pre-event arm injury after a strong ride at the opening FIM Baja round in Jordan.
Emirati Mohammed Meerza led the FIM National Baja on his Husqvarna from Saudi Arabia’s Mishaal Al-Ghuneim, and Al-Mashna Al-Shammeri was quickest in the FIA National Baja.
Friday
FIA vehicles leave Lusail on an 85.85km liaison to tackle two selective sections of 122.73km and 124.86km, starting at 09.05hrs and 11.25hrs. The motorcycles, quads and lone SSV take on the longer section first from 09.25hrs, then the shorter 122.73km section after a 20-minute neutralisation and refuel.