Entries keep arriving for the Qatar International Baja, round two of both the FIM Bajas World Cup and the FIA Middle East Cup for Cross-Country Bajas.
Organised by the Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation, the three-day event runs on March 24th-26th. Officials have confirmed it will be based at the Losail International Circuit, north of Doha.
Several competitors in both series already raced at the Jordan Baja two weeks ago, and more than 40 local competitors took part in last weekend’s opening round of the Qatar Off-Road Championship (QORC).
FIM standings
Mohammed Al-Balooshi won the motorcycle section in Jordan for a third year in a row and leads Jordan’s Abdullah Abu Aishah by five points in the FIM Bajas World Cup. Kuwait’s Abdullah Al-Shatti (16 points), Qatar-based Australian Martin Chalmers (13 points) and Ziv Karmi (11 points) complete the top five. Qatar’s Sheikh Mohammed Al-Thani and Abdulrahman Al-Sheeb are 13th and 14th with three and two points.
Zaid Jaber was the only points scorer in the FIM Junior category in Jordan. Shai Shapiri (25 points) leads the Veterans from Gad Nachmann (20 points), Barak Dudai (16 points) and Sheikh Mohammed Al-Thani (13 points).
Saudi riders lead the quads after the opening round, with Abdulmajeed Al-Khulaifi on 25 points after a comfortable win in southern Jordan. Hani Al-Noumesi and Saif Al-Zyoud have 20 and 16 points, and Faisal Al-Suwayh is fourth on 13.
Roy Bartov (25 points) leads Tal Galmidi by five points in the SSV section, and Alona Ben Natan (25 points) heads Yael Kadshai in the FIM Women’s section.
Al-Balooshi, Al-Shatti, Al-Sheeb and Chalmers were among the many riders at last Saturday’s National Baja, which Chalmers won for the first time. They hope that experience of the Qatari terrain will help them prepare for the international event in just over three weeks.
FIA standings
Emirati Aliyyah Koloc, 17, leads the FIA Middle East Cup drivers’ standings. The Can-Am driver was the first registered competitor to finish in Jordan, in fifth place, and has 40 points. Saudi Arabia’s Hamad Al-Harbi is second on 33 points, with Muneef Al-Salmani (25 points) and Aliyyah’s twin sister Yasmeen (21 points) completing the top four. Aliyyah Koloc also leads T3 from Al-Harbi and her sister.
The route
The Qatar International Baja opens with a 10km Qualifying Stage on Thursday morning, March 24th. FIA competitors will race over 459.30 competitive kilometres in a route of 846.62km, and the event also counts as rounds three and four of the QORC series.
Virginia Gomez is Clerk of the Course for the FIM event, working with Baja Director Pedro Almeida and Assistant Director Rashid Al-Sulaiti. Riders face 508.74 competitive kilometres in a route of 1,042.80km.
The 2022 Baja is again chaired by QMMF President Abdulrahman Al-Mannai, with QMMF Executive Director Amro Al-Hamad and board member Abdulrazaq Al-Kuwari. Entries close on Monday, March 14th.