FORTY-EIGHT ENTRANTS SET FOR QATAR INTERNATIONAL BAJA
FORTY-EIGHT ENTRANTS SET FOR QATAR INTERNATIONAL BAJA
FORTY-EIGHT
ENTRANTS SET FOR QATAR INTERNATIONAL BAJA
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Qatar’s
International Baja attracts competitors from 15 nations
LOSAIL
(Qatar): Forty-eight riders and drivers and competitors from 15 nations will
take part in this weekend’s Qatar International Baja, a new round of the FIM
Bajas World Cup.
The
Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF) announced the official entry list
yesterday evening (Sunday) and, subject to final FIM technical checks, 37
motorcycles, five quads and six SSVs will tackle Qatar’s flagship off-road
event.
Joining
a formidable local line-up of riders that includes Sheikh Mohammed Al-Thani,
Abdulrahman Al-Sheeb, Mohammed Al-Kaabi and Jamal Al-Qetiti, are an impressive
number of motorcycle entrants from Australia, Tunisia, Russia, Saudi Arabia,
Kuwait, the UAE, Bahrain, Mozambique and the United Kingdom.
MX
Ride Dubai’s Mohammed and Sultan Al-Balooshi are two of the favourites to
succeed on two wheels, while Kuwait’s Sarah Khuraibet, Mohammed Jaafar Meshari
and Abdullah Al-Shatti are also chasing FIM championship glory.
Mozambique’s
Paulo Oliveira visits the State of Qatar for the first time on his Husqvarna
CRX 450 RX, where he faces competition from Kiwi Edward Lines, Bahrain’s Salman
Mohamed and a host of Saudi riders that include Abdulhalim Al-Mogheera and
Ahmed Al-Jaber.
The
Qatar International Baja has also attracted a group of 13 British riders that
include Dakar veteran and Desert Rose team organiser Patsy Quick, Robert
Wallace, Barry Howe, Kurt Burroughs, Andrew Newland, Richard Doors and Vanessa
Ruck.
There
are six all-terrain vehicles entered in the SSV category: local hopes rest on
the shoulders of Ahmed Al-Kuwari (Yamaha), Khalid Al-Mohannadi (Polaris) and
Abdullah Al-Khelaifi (Yamaha), but they will face resistance from Jordan’s
Ahmed Allouh (Can-Am), Lebanon’s Henry Kahy (Can-Am) and Italy’s Stefano
Marrini (Yamaha).
Five
Yamaha quads will also tackle the event this weekend, with Saudi Arabia’s
Faisal Al-Suwayh lining up alongside fellow countrymen, Haitham Al-Tuwaijri,
Sultan Al-Masoud, Hani Al-Noumesi and Abdulaziz Al-Atawi.
A
quintet of British riders have entered the over-450cc category, namely Harry
Michael, Hugh Mackay, Joseph Dann, Quick herself and Brett Hunt. Saudi Arabia’s
Mohammed Al-Khater and Qutaibah Al-Sharif are also registered in this
non-points scoring section of the Baja.
“We
are delighted to see such a strong international field of riders and drivers
for our first event to be a round of the FIM Bajas World Cup ,” enthused QMMF’s
Executive Director Amro Al-Hamad.
“I
am sure that international competitors coming here for the first time will
relish the challenge of the route laid on by our team at the QMMF. For those
riders returning, I am sure they are aware of the demands of the desert here,
both in terms of navigation and the varied type of terrain they will face over
the weekend.”
Several
competitors will also take part in a Qatar National Baja running behind the
main FIM event. Entrants include former MERC rally driver Edith Weiss and
Qatar’s Ali Al-Jaidah.
The
event gets underway at the new Al-Bayt Stadium in Al-Khor on Thursday afternoon
(September 30th). Competitors will then face three stages and 504.24
competitive kilometres in a demanding desert route of 872.44km before the
finish at the Al-Bayt Stadium on Saturday evening.
For
general information about the 2021 Qatar International Baja, contact the Qatar
Motor and Motor Cycle Federation (QMMF), P.O. Box 8708, Doha, Qatar, Tel: + 974
443 79885, Fax: + 974 443 79732, E-mail: info@qmmf.com.qa and www.qmmf.com
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