LUSAIL, QATAR – Isle of Man TT legend James Hillier heads to Doha next week for his first Qatar International Baja, round six of the FIA World Baja Cup and FIM Bajas World Cup, based at Lusail Sports Arena.
The 39-year-old from Bournemouth is one of the world’s leading motorcycle road racers and also rode the unassisted Malles Moto class at the 2023 Dakar Rally. Best known for success at the TT and North West 200, he faces a very different test on Qatar’s winding gravel trails, where speed must be matched by strong navigation.
From trials to the TT
Hillier started riding at four and competed in trials two years later. By 17, the Hampshire rider had moved into the British Supersport and Superstock 1000 Championships. His first TT came in 2008, with two Supersport races for Jackson Racing, finishing 19th and 17th. Lapping at more than 119mph, he won the Newcomers’ Trophy during a 10-year spell with the Bournemouth Kawasaki Team.
He took his first podium in 2012 and later won the Lightweight TT. He has five podiums across Supersport, Superbike, Senior and Superstock, and is the seventh-fastest rider ever on the Mountain Course with an average of 132.414mph. He also has nine North West 200 podiums, including a 2019 Superstock win that earned him Man of the Meeting, and a top-10 finish at the Macau Grand Prix.
Dakar preparation
Hillier is racing in Qatar to sharpen his off-road and navigation skills ahead of a second Dakar Rally attempt in Saudi Arabia with WTF Racing in January 2025, having also tackled events such as the Setra Enduro to build fitness. The event is organised by the QMMF under the chairmanship of President Abdulrahman Al-Mannai, with Executive Director Amro Al-Hamad and board member Abdulrazaq Al-Kuwari.