Saleh Al-Saif, Jordan’s Abdullah Abu Aishah and Abdulmajeed Al-Khulaifi led the car, motorcycle and quad categories at the Jordan Baja after Friday’s two competitive sections of 232.71km and 81.97km through Wadi Rum.
The round of the FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Bajas and FIM Bajas World Cup produced drama from the start in one of the world’s most spectacular settings. Pre-event favourite Yazeed Al-Rajhi hit early technical trouble and lost around 80 minutes in the first section, and a T3 Can-Am Maverick led overall at the end of the day.
Al-Saif in command
Al-Saif was clearly fastest through the first section in his Can-Am, and the Saudi and Russian co-driver Egor Okhotnikov kept out of trouble in the second to take a 6min 43.8sec overnight lead over T4 leader Kees Koolen.
We stayed clear of any problems and we kept a good focus and our times were good. We look forward to staying at the top. I love it here. It is similar to the regions of Saudi Arabia where I race.
Saleh Al-Saif
Miroslav Zapletal admitted the navigation was hard, but the experienced Czech brought his Ford F-150 home fourth, behind third-placed Meshari Al-Thefiri of Kuwait. Young Aliyyah Koloc was fifth in her Buggyra ZM Racing Can-Am, and Fernando Alvarez ended the day eighth overall and fourth in T3, behind Russia’s Armen Puzian and Saudi Saeed Al-Mouri.
Defending FIA T3 World Champion Dania Akeel finished the day ninth.
It was a lot of fun. I used both of my tyres in the first part but I am really pleased with how the day went.
Dania Akeel
Al-Rajhi ended an eventful day 12th, only 1hr 03min 51.8sec off the lead.
We broke the back of the car. We stopped for two hours to fix it and lost around 80 minutes on the stage. We are still going and we are enjoying it.
Yazeed Al-Rajhi
Abu Aishah edges Al-Balooshi
Abu Aishah and Mohammed Al-Balooshi rode together for long stretches, and the local rider used the Emirati’s tracks to edge into a narrow overnight lead.
Today was a long day, 315km. We have 150km tomorrow in Araba. I will keep pushing until the end.
Abdullah Abu Aishah
This is normal when you open. It’s quite challenging with the navigation. I believe Abdullah caught me after around 70 or 80km and then we stayed together the whole race. I kept opening. He did good with his part. Both of us are going for the win. I always give 100%. As long as I know I give 100%, I am happy.
Mohammed Al-Balooshi
Martin Chalmers finished fourth behind Kuwait’s Abdullah Al-Shatti. The Australian started building and racing bikes after moving to Qatar.
That was some of the best riding I have ever done and also some of the most challenging. Navigation was very tough. Fortunately we (Al-Shatti) stuck together but we had to turn around a few times. I couldn’t appreciate the scenery though, unfortunately.
Martin Chalmers
Multiple Hail International Rally winner Abdulmajeed Al-Khulaifi built a huge lead in the quads on his Yamaha.
What a rally today..! I have been in Dakar and this is like Dakar stages, motorcyclists facing a hard and unique stage with sand and mountains. It was tough but thanks god that we finished.
Abdulmajeed Al-Khulaifi
National Baja crews tackled a single, shortened 141.03km version of the first FIA section. Al-Mashna Al-Shammeri was fastest in his Nissan Patrol and leads fellow Saudi Motab Al-Shammeri by 6min 20sec.
Friday as it happened
Abdulhalem Al-Mogheera set the unofficial fastest time of 3hr 49min 12sec on the opening 232.71km section in Wadi Rum to lead the bikes, beating Abu Aishah by 1min 17sec, two-time winner Al-Balooshi by 3min 11sec and Abdullah Al-Shatti by 3min 22sec. Al-Khulaifi controlled the quads and built a comfortable lead over Hani Al-Noumesi.
Firm FIA favourite Al-Rajhi was badly delayed by rear wheel problems. Al-Saif won the stage in his Can-Am, beating Zapletal by 12min 18sec to take control. Meshari Al-Thefiri was second and first in T4, 8min 06sec behind, with Koolen third.
On the shorter second stage, Abu Aishah rode close to Al-Balooshi, benefiting from the Emirati opening the road, to take a 1min 40.6sec overnight lead.
Al-Saif drove carefully through the second section to keep the car lead, while a resurgent Al-Rajhi won the stage and climbed the leaderboard.
Saturday
Competitors head to Wadi Araba for the first time in the Jordan Baja’s history. The striking valley runs from the Gulf of Aqaba to the southern shores of the Dead Sea and hosts a 150.89km selective section. The first motorcycle is due on stage at 07.55hrs and the leading car at 09.25hrs.
Positions after Leg 1 (unofficial)
- Cars: 1. Saleh Al-Saif (SAU)/Egor Okhotnikov (RUS) Can-Am Maverick X3 4hr 15min 33.6sec; 2. Kees Koolen (NLD)/Wouter Rosegaar (NLD) Can-Am Maverick XRS Turbo 4hr 22min 17.4sec; 3. Meshari Al-Thefiri (KWT)/François Cazalet (FRA) Can-Am Maverick XRS Turbo 4hr 22min 29.9sec; 4. Miroslav Zapletal (CZE)/Marek Sykora (SVK) Ford F-150 Evo 4hr 29min 39.9sec; 5. Aliyyah Koloc (ARE)/Sebastien Delaunay (FRA) Can-Am Maverick DV21 4hr 30min 41.5sec
- Motorcycles: 1. Abdullah Abu Aishah (JOR) KTM Rally Factory 5hr 10min 49.8sec; 2. Mohammed Al-Balooshi (ARE) KTM 450 Rally 5hr 12min 30.4sec; 3. Abdullah Al-Shatti (KWT) KTM 450 Rally 5hr 21min 03.0sec; 4. Martin Chalmers (AUS) Yamaha WR 450F 5hr 22min 47.1sec; 5. Abdulhalim Al-Mogheera (SAU) KTM EXC 450 5hr 53min 09.1sec
- Quads: 1. Abdulmajeed Al-Khulaifi (SAU) Yamaha Raptor 6hr 05min 47.9sec; 2. Hani Al-Noumesi (SAU) Yamaha 7hr 24min 37.8sec
- National Baja: 1. Al-Mashna Al-Shammeri/Hani Al-Shammeri (SAU) Nissan Patrol 2hr 05min 42.0sec; 2. Motab Al-Shammeri/Bader Al-Ajmi (SAU) Nissan 2hr 12min 02.5sec; 3. Mahmoud Al-Maabda/Yousef Ligwena (PSE) Mitsubishi Pajero 2hr 13min 44.8sec