In terms of numbers and strength in depth across the different classes, this week’s Qatar International Baja is the largest ever to be hosted by the Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF) since 33 bikes tackled the event back in November 2004, with victory on that occasion falling to UAE-based German rider Tim Trenker on a KTM.This week, 51 motorcycles and four quads grace the entry list for the second round of the 2023 FIM Bajas World Cup. MX Ride Dubai has entered four motorcycles in Qatar and the team’s lead rider Mohamed al-Balooshi will be hoping to repeat his recent Saudi victory and extend his early lead in the FIM Bajas World Cup. The Emirati has mixed memories of his previous visits to Qatar for the longer Cross-Country Rally and knows full well how tricky the navigation is and how deceptive the terrain can be.His brother Sultan is 10th in the championship standings and rides a second team bike alongside fellow Emirati Marwan al-Rahmani and Kuwait’s Abdullah al-Shatti. Jordan’s Abdullah Abu Aisheh is not present on this occasion.Qatar-based Australian Martin Chalmers is seeded at two after finishing second to al-Balooshi in Saudi Arabia, while Briton Alex McInnes is third in the points’ standings after round one and starts at three.Talented Polish rider Konrad Dabrowski claimed overall victory in last year’s Qatar International Baja and this year’s fourth seed is also the pre-event favourite to win the FIM Juniors’ class for riders under 25-years-old on January 1st, 2023. He comes into the weekend as both the defending FIM Bajas World Cup and Junior Champion.Konrad’s closest Junior rival may well be McInnes, who leads the Junior section on his Motozone Husqvarna after finishing second in the championship last season. Canadian Jonathan Finn and Italy’s Alessandro Iacovelli will also be chasing points in Juniors.The experienced KTM rider Mirjam Pol is the defending FIM Women’s World Champion and leads three rivals into a tussle for honours in Qatar. The Dutch girl lines up against last year’s runner-up, Poland’s Joanna Modrzewska, Kuwait’s Sarah Khuraibet and Great Britain’s Vanessa Ruck, the latter riding a Honda CRF 450 RX.Fourteen riders are eligible to score points in the FIM Veterans category for over 45s. Australia’s Andrew Houlihan leads the class after his useful ninth-place finish in Saudi Arabia but competition will be intense in the Qatar deserts.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 also holds European hopes of success alongside Norway’s Ola Floene.The Qatari trio of Sheikh Mohamed al-Thani, Mahanna Rashid al-Naimi and Mohamed al-Kaabi, South Africa’s Jaco Anderson and Emirati rider Mohamed Al-Shamsi round off the runners eligible for the Veterans’ category.The competitive action gets underway with a Prologue stage on Thursday from 14.15hrs onwards. This precedes the ceremonial start at a new location on Lusail Boulevard, starting with the motorcycles and quads from 19.30hrs.2023 Qatar International Baja – leading entries:FIM – Bikes (top 10)1. Mohamed al-Balooshi (ARE) KTM 450 Rally Replica2. Martin Chalmers (AUS) Beta 430 RR3. Alex McInnes (GBR) Husqvarna FE4504. Konrad Dabrowski (POL) KTM 450 Rally5. Jonathan Finn (CAN) Honda CRF 450 RL6. Mishal al-Ghuneim (SAU) KTM 450 Rally7. Hamdan al-Ali (ARE) KTM 4508. Brett Hunt (GBR) Husqvarna FE4509. Andrew Houlihan (AUS) Husqvarna FR10. Sultan al-Balooshi (ARE) TBAFIM - Juniors3. Alex McInnes (GBR) Husqvarna FE4504. Konrad Dabrowski (POL) KTM 450 Rally5. Jonathan Finn (CAN) Honda CRF 450 RL49. Alessandro Iacovelli (ITA) Husaberg 350 FEFIM - Women28. Mirjam Pol (NLD) KTM30. Joanna Modrzewska (POL) KTM 450 Rally31. Sarah Khuraibet (KWT) Husqvarna FE 45041. Vanessa Ruck (GBR) Honda CRF 450 RXFIM - Veterans9. Andrew Houlihan (AUS) Husqvarna FR13. Barry Howe (GBR) Husqvarna 450 FE18. Cesare Zacchetti (ITA) KTM EXC 350F22. Sheikh Mohamed al-Thani (QAT) GasGas Rally Replica23. Mohamed al-Kaabi (QAT) KTM 450 Rally Replica24. Jaco Anderson (ZAF) KTM 450 EXC26. Mahanna Rashid al-Naimi (QAT) Honda CRF 450 X32. Ola Floene (NOR) KTM 450 Rally33. Francesco Catanese (ITA) KTM 450 Rally36. Fabrizio Machitella (ITA) KTM 450 EXC-F37. Alberto Bertoldi (ITA) KTM 450 Rally Replica38. Elio Aglioni (ITA) KTM 450 Rally Replica39. Enrico Tanganelli (ITA) Husqvarna 450 Rally Replica43. Mohamed Al-Shamsi (ARE) KTM 450 XCFIM Bajas World Cup – standings after round 1:1. Mohamed al-Balooshi (ARE) 25pts2. Martin Chalmers (AUS) 20pts3. Alex McInnes (GBR) 16pts4. Jonathan Finn (CAN) 13pts5. Mishal al-Ghuneim (SAU) 11pts6. Abdullah Abu Aisheh (JOR) 10pts7. Hamdan al-Ali (ARE) 9pts8. Brett Hunt (GBR) 8pts9. Andrew Houlihan (AUS) 7pts10. Sultan Al-Balooshi (ARE) 6pts, etc
March 13, 2023 | 10:32 PM