In numbers and in strength across the different classes, this week’s Qatar International Baja is the biggest staged by the Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF) since 33 bikes took part back in November 2004, when UAE-based German rider Tim Trenker won on a KTM.
This time 51 motorcycles and four quads are on the entry list for the second round of the 2023 FIM Bajas World Cup.
Al-Balooshi defends his lead
MX Ride Dubai has entered four motorcycles, and lead rider Mohammed Al-Balooshi will be looking to repeat his recent Saudi win and build on his early lead in the FIM Bajas World Cup. The Emirati has mixed memories of previous visits to Qatar for the longer Cross-Country Rally and knows just how tricky the navigation and how deceptive the terrain can be.
His brother Sultan, 10th in the standings, rides a second team bike alongside fellow Emirati Marwan Al-Rahmani and Kuwait’s Abdullah Al-Shatti. Jordan’s Abdullah Abu Aisheh is absent on this occasion.
Qatar-based Australian Martin Chalmers is seeded two after finishing runner-up to Al-Balooshi in Saudi Arabia, while Briton Alex McInnes is third in the standings after round one and starts at three.
Dabrowski chases Junior honours
Talented Polish rider Konrad Dabrowski won last year’s Qatar International Baja outright. This year’s fourth seed is favourite to win the FIM Juniors’ class for riders under 25 on January 1st, 2023, and arrives as both defending FIM Bajas World Cup and Junior Champion.
His closest Junior rival may be McInnes, who leads the Junior section on his Motozone Husqvarna after finishing second in the championship last season. Canada’s Jonathan Finn and Italy’s Alessandro Iacovelli will also be chasing Junior points.
Women and Veterans
Experienced KTM rider Mirjam Pol is the defending FIM Women’s World Champion and leads three rivals into the fight in Qatar. The Dutch rider faces last year’s runner-up Joanna Modrzewska of Poland, Kuwait’s Sarah Khuraibet and Great Britain’s Vanessa Ruck, who rides a Honda CRF 450 RX.
Fourteen riders are eligible for points in the FIM Veterans category for over-45s. Australia’s Andrew Houlihan leads the class after a useful ninth place in Saudi Arabia, but competition in the Qatari deserts will be fierce.
The Husqvarna rider faces a six-strong Italian challenge from Cesare Zacchetti, Francesco Catanese, Fabrizio Macchitella, Alberto Bertoldi, Elio Aglioni and Enrico Tanganelli, while Britain’s Barry Howe and Norway’s Ola Floene carry further European hopes.
Qatar’s Sheikh Mohammed Al-Thani, Mahanna Rashid Al-Naimi and Mohammed Al-Kaabi, South Africa’s Jaco Anderson and Emirati rider Mohammed Al-Shamsi complete the riders eligible for the Veterans’ category.
Competition starts with a Prologue stage on Thursday from Lusail Boulevard, beginning with the motorcycles and quads from 19.30hrs.