Kuwait’s Mohammed Jaffar Meshari, Saudi Arabia’s Haitham Al-Tuwaijri and Qatar’s Ahmed Al-Kuwari led the motorcycle, quad and SSV classes after Thursday afternoon’s opening super special of the Qatar International Baja at Semaisma.
Round five of the FIM Bajas World Cup started at the new Al-Bayt Stadium in Al-Khor, before 32 bikes, four quads and four SSVs tackled the 7.68km stage. Logistical problems kept Jordan’s front-running rider Abdullah Abuaisheh from starting.
Six of the 32 bikes ran in the over-450cc class, which does not score FIM Baja points, and a separate Qatar National Baja ran behind the FIM event.
Early order
MX Ride Dubai’s Mohammed Al-Balooshi was second in the motorcycles behind the Kuwaiti, and British youngster Robert Wallace was third and top Junior.
Kuwait’s Sarah Khuraibet led the FIM Women’s class, though Patsy Quick and Vanessa Ruck were quicker on their over-450cc bikes. Mozambique’s Paulo Oliveira led the Veterans Trophy on his Husqvarna CRF450 RX.
Ahmed Al-Kuwari and Nasser Al-Kuwari led the SSVs by 21 seconds in a Yamaha YXZ 1000R. Khalid Al-Mohannadi made a late co-driver change, with Chris Barwick replacing French navigator Sebastien Delaunay, and was second, with Lebanon’s Henry Kahy third.
Eight competitors attended the pre-event press conference before the start ceremony: Qatar’s Sheikh Mohammed Al-Thani, Khalid Al-Mohannadi, Abdullah Al-Khelaifi and Ahmed Al-Kuwari, Britain’s Patsy Quick, Emirati Mohammed Al-Balooshi, Kuwait’s Sarah Khuraibet and Saudi quad front-runner Haitham Al-Tuwaijri.
Friday
Competitors face a 249.12km selective section through the deserts of north and central Qatar, with passage controls at 124.66km, 146.87km, 161.82km and 177.72km and refuelling at PC1. The top five from the super special start stage two in reverse order; everyone else, including the SSVs, starts in finishing order.
Positions after SSS1 (unofficial)
- Motorcycles: 1. Mohammed Jaffar Meshari (KWT) KTM 450 RR 4min 48sec; 2. Mohammed Al-Balooshi (ARE) KTM 450 RR 5min 08sec; 3. Robert Wallace (GBR) KTM 450 RR 5min 09sec; 4. Abdullah Al-Shatti (KWT) KTM 450 5min 17sec; 5. Martin Chalmers (AUS) Yamaha WRF 450F 5min 23sec
- Quads: 1. Haitham Al-Tuwaijri (SAU) Yamaha YFZ 450R 5min 22sec; 2. Sultan Al-Masoud (SAU) Yamaha Raptor 5min 59sec; 3. Faisal Al-Suwayh (SAU) Yamaha 6min 01sec
- SSVs: 1. Ahmed Al-Kuwari/Nasser Al-Kuwari (QAT) Yamaha YXZ 1000 R 5min 03sec; 2. Khalid Al-Mohannadi (QAT)/Chris Barwick (GBR) Polaris RZR 1000 5min 24sec; 3. Henry Kahy (LEB)/Musa Djiyerian (JOR) Can-Am X3 5min 37sec