Balooshi Ready For the Big UAE Title Battle in Abu Dhabi BAJA
Mohammed Al Balooshi, the first Emirati bikes star to capture the World Cup rally title, says he will be at his best in next month Abu Dhabi Baja to maintain his championship hopes in the UAE's new road series.
After a fourth-round victory in Dubai earlier this month, Balooshi is a weak front in the Moto 450 class of the inaugural UAE Baja Championship, and the title race is effectively remains wide open when only 11 points separate the top four riders.
The 2018 FIM Bajas World Cup champion is currently topped by a point from senior rider Dave McBride, with Kuwait's third round winner Mohamed Jafar and Dubai's South African Aaron Mare winning in the first two rounds, also in contention.
The competition is at its best level in this first year of the championship, and the arrival of Abu Dhabi Baja will definitely add to that, Balooshi said. "There is very little between the top group of riders and nothing less than your best will not be enough to win."
Held under the patronage of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council and organized by the Emirates Motorsport Club (EMC), Abu Dhabi Baja roars to life in the Liwa Desert on November 15-16. According to Balooshi, the event underscores the UAE's position as one of the best stages in the world for Off Road Rally.
As competitors, we are very fortunate to have them here - a growing number of top class off road events and some of the best terrain in the world for this type of rallying, he said.
It gives you grand incentive as a rider to work hard and get in your best shape to compete. Im in the gym or out in the desert on the bike every day to give myself the best chance of winning.
Following two wins in the series, Rashed Abdulla is leading the championship's Motos 250 class by five points from fellow-Emirati rider Ali Ashoor, which has seen four ODIs so far in Sharjah, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah as well as Dubai.
Sheikh Abdullah Al Qassimi, founder and President of the Emirates Motorsport Club, wants to capture the imagination of more top drivers and riders from the Abu Dhabi Baja across the Gulf region and also the UAE.
"This is the new flagship event for the UAE Baja Championship and we want competitors from all categories across the Emirates to embrace it and ensure it goes from strength to strength." he said. "We have already begun attracting drivers and riders from other Gulf countries, and we hope the launch of the two-day rally will bring many more to the UAE."
Abu Dhabi Baja offers prize money in all categories - T1, T2, Group S and UTV Auto Classes, as well as Motos 450, 250 and Quad segments.
The event will be held at the Moreeb Dune facility with the support of the Liwa Sport Club. From the rally base, From the rally base, competitors head out into the spectacular dunes of the Rub Al Khali for two special stages amounting to 250km of competitive off road rallying, in a route totalling 280km in length, including liaisons.
