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Tag: FIM Bajas World Cup
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Aishwarya Pissay of Sherco TVS Rally team all set for FIM Bajas WC final round
Dubai, Nov. 28, 2024: TVS Racing’s star racer, Aishwarya Pissay, the only World Cup winner from India in motorsports is raring to go at the final round of the FIM Bajas World Cup here from Friday.
The Bengaluru champion who re-launched her international campaign at the Baja Spain Aragon, the third round and finished a creditable second, also took part in the gruelling 590-km of Hungarian Baja this year and kept her good standing on the table.
The Baja season will end with the medal ceremony for the winners of the FIM Bajas World Cup in the Moto, Quad, Women, Junior, veteran and Trail categories on Sunday. Twenty-nine bikes will line up on the start on the final weekend in the Dubai desert.
After a long break due to an injury, Aishwarya worked hard on rehabilitation and plunged into high-performance training abroad for about 45 days. The final round of the FIM Bajas World Cup is set to be an exhilarating showdown, with Aishwarya Pissay aiming to cement her place among the elite. Competing in the Women’s Category, she brings a wealth of experience and adaptability to varying terrains, which will be crucial in this climactic event. This round will feature gruelling stages that test navigation, endurance, and strategy, providing a platform for Aishwarya to showcase her growth and determination. With 29 riders set to participate in the race, she will be a part of Sherco TVS Rally Factory Team. The winner of 2019 World Cup Baja is all geared up for the final hurray and is eager to make the podium of the World Cup once again.
The multiple Indian National rally champion who became the first Indian woman to make her international debut at Baja Spain in 2018 at the age of 22, this will be Aishwarya’s third shot at the World Cup. The Indian rider supported by TVS Racing, co-sponsored by Scott, Ultrahuman, IIFL and Micro Labs, looks to turn tables astride a Sherco 450 SEF. She trained hard, setting up a short base in Dubai, to fine-tune her physical fitness and riding skills.
“Getting back into shape both mentally and physically, is of utmost importance. It was a high-performance training focussed on fitness and mental conditioning but also on identifying and fine-tuning my riding skills and learning the terrain and the art of navigation. Staying focussed and calm are some other interesting aspects that I learnt and enjoyed,” said Aishwarya, who continues to get support from Surana College, her alma mater.
“The training abroad has given me much confidence and now is the time to utilise these skills and continue learning. I will focus on the Baja for the next three days. Every incident has taught me lessons and made me stronger and I am ready to go,” said the 28-year-old, who bounced back after the life-threatening accident in 2018 to bag the World Cup.
On Thursday, The riders did the administrative and technical checks at Dubai Festival City Mall and then took part in the start ceremony. On Friday, a short 4.32km Prologue will determine the starting order for the first 195km special stage on Saturday.
On December 1, at the finish of the second stage, which will also run for 195km, the winners of the various categories will be crowned after a long season in Europe and the Middle East. Only the best six results will be counted towards the final standings from the eight Bajas.
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25 riders from 12 Nations for Saudi Baja: WORLD CUP
HAIL (SAUDI ARABIA), 30 Jan 2023: Thirty-one motorcycles, five quads and competitors from 12 nations have entered this weekend’s Saudi Baja-Hail, the opening round of the 2023 FIM Bajas World Cup, in addition to four riders taking part in a national event running behind.
There will be no Indian riders at the first round of the FIM Bajas World Cup this year.
While two-time event winner Mohammed Al-Balooshi of the MX Ride Dubai team heads the field on his TM 450, two other former Hail winners feature on the international entry.
Al-Balooshi’s brother Sultan also represents the MX Ride Dubai team and is a two-time former winner of the longer Hail International Rally (2018 and 2019), while Saudi rider Mishal Al-Ghuneim reached the top step of the podium on a Husqvarna in 2021.
There is strength in depth across the entry, with several riders more than capable of challenging for victory, while others will be hopeful of scoring points in the FIM Womens’ and FIM Veterans’ categories.
Young Jordanian rider Abdullah Abu Aishah (KTM) has pushed Al-Balooshi close on several occasions in the past and will be hopeful of starting his FIM challenge in winning style. He finished fifth on the 2022 Saudi Baja last November, behind the triumphant Al-Balooshi, Kuwait’s Abdullah Al-Shatti (Kawasaki), Al-Ghuneim and fellow Saudi Anass Al-Reheyani. All three of those rivals will be challenging for top honours again this weekend.
FIM Junior hopeful Alex McInnes is seeded at four and the Briton is more than capable of finishing on the podium, while Qatar-based Australian was sixth last year and will be aiming for a top three finish. Other international riders likely to challenge for top honours are Kiwi Philip Wilson, Australia’s Andrew Houlihan and the British duo of Barry Howe and Brett Hunt.
The neighbouring State of Qatar will be represented by Sheikh Mohammed Al-Thani (Gas-Gas), Mohammed Al-Kaabi (KTM), Mahanna Rashid Al-Naimi (Honda) and Abdulrahman Al-Sheeb (KTM). Yaghoob Azadi will ride a Rasen Racing Team Husqvarna in the national category.
Kuwait’s Sarah Khuraibet (Duust Rally Team Husqvarna) and Indian rider Sarah Kashyap (Beta) will decide the outcome of the Womens’ category.
Last year’s quad winner Haitham Al-Tuwaijri faces Saudi rivals Hani Al-Noumesi, Abdulaziz Al-Atawi and Sultan Al-Masoud and Emirati Abdulaziz Ahli to decide the honours on four wheels.
The Baja is being managed by the Saudi Motorsport Company, in conjunction with the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation (SAMF) and the Ministry of Sport. The event is running under the chairmanship of H.R.H. Prince Khalid bin Sultan Al-Abdullah Al-Faisal, the President of the SAMF and in partnership with Abdul Latif Jameel (ALJ) Motors.
The weekend weather forecast is for dry, sunny conditions but cool daytime temperatures in the deserts surrounding the city of Hail. The on-stage timetable of events fires into life with a three-kilometre Qualifying Stage on Thursday (February 2nd) afternoon that takes place after the traditional ceremonial start adjacent to the Maghwat conference facility.
2023 Saudi Baja-Hail – leading entries:
Bikes
1. Mohammed Al-Balooshi (ARE) TM 450
2. Abdullah Abu Aishah (JOR) KTM EXC-F 450
3. Abdullah Al-Shatti (KWT) Kawasaki KC 450
4. Alex McInnes (GBR) Husqvarna FE 450
5. Mishal Al-Ghuneim (SAU) KTM 450 Rally
6. Anass Al-Rehyani (SAU) KTM 450
7. Martin Chalmers (AUS) Beta 450
8. Hamdan Al-Ali (ARE) Husqvarna FE 450
9. Abdulhalim Al-Mogheera (SAU) KTM EXC F 450
10. Sultan Al-Balooshi (ARE) TM 450
11. Yasir Al-Khuraif (SAU) KTM SFX 450
12. Ehab Al-Hakeem (LEB) Yamaha WR 450F
13. Ahmed Al-Jaber (SAU) KTM 450
14. Fawaz Al-Toaimi (SAU) Yamaha WR 450F
15. Mohammed Jaffar Meshari (KWT) KTM 450 RFR
16. Mohammed Al-Kaabi (QAT) KTM 450
17. Sheikh Mohammed Al-Thani (QAT) Gas-Gas 450
18. Philip Wilson (NZL) KTM 450 Rally
19. Gerard Lubbinge (NLD) KTM EXC F 450
20. Jonathan Finn (CAN) Honda CRF 450 RL
21. Barry Howe (GBR) KTM SXF 450
22. Brett Hunt (GBR) Husqvarna FE 450
23. Andrew Houlihan (AUS) Husqvarna RFR 450
24. Mahanna Rashid Al-Naimi (QAT) Honda 450
25. Sohaib Al-Barade (SAU) Honda CRF 450 X
Quads
100. Hani Al-Noumesi (SAU) Yamaha Raptor 700
101. Abdulaziz Al-Atawi (SAU) Yamaha YFZ 450
102. Abdulaziz Al-Ahli (ARE) Yamaha Raptor 700
103. Sultan Al-Masoud (SAU) Yamaha Raptor 700
111. Haitham Al-Tuwaijri (SAU) Yamaha Raptor 700
2023 Saudi National Baja-Hail – leading entries:
Bikes
60. Bader Al-Bader (SAU) KTM EXC-500
61. Simon Francis (AUS) KTM EXC-F
62. Yaghoob Azadi (QAT) Husqvarna FE 501
63. Abdulwahab Al-Mana (SAU) KTM EXC-F
Ends
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Qatar Baja gets underway with short qualies
LOSAIL (QATAR): The 2022 Qatar International Baja gets underway with a 9.20km Qualifying Stage on Thursday afternoon.
The outcome will determine the starting order for the first of two demanding selective sections on this second round of the FIM Bajas World Cup and round two of the FIA Middle East Cup for Cross-Country Bajas.
Many of the leading drivers were able to carry out a shakedown in the desert close to Losail on Wednesday afternoon. Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah, Yazeed Al-Rajhi and Yasir Seaidan dusted the cobwebs off their Toyota Hiluxes, with Al-Attiyah using the latest South African-built Toyota Gazoo Racing machine that won the Dakar Rally in January.
WRC star Dani Sordo and co-driver Xavier Panseri spent an enjoyable few hours with Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah, his brother Khalifa, Mathieu Baumel, François Cazalet and friends driving Al-Attiyah’s personal Can-Ams through the dunes near Sealine beach, south of Doha, on Tuesday.
Sordo was impressed after his first couple of days in Qatar. The Spaniard is competing in a Nasser Racing-entered Can-Am Maverick on his first desert rally this weekend.
He said: “Honestly, it was an amazing experience yesterday with Nasser and all his team. It was really good. First of all, in the dunes, it was a little bit tough. Not to drive, because I was not fast. But the feeling when you go up and down in the dunes. It was something really new for me. It was even more complicated than I thought.
“I drive before this kind of buggies but just for fun, not the Can-Am. But the car has a nice feeling when it is normal corners and it is really good. When you go to the dunes and the co-driver tells you, you need to go up, it’s different. Of course, you never do something for nothing. I would like to know this discipline and, in the future, I would like to do a little bit more, you know.”
Four-time Dakar winner Al-Attiyah said: “I say this is the last race before Ramadan. I am really happy to create teams for the next Dakar. Kris (Meeke) and Dani (Sordo) and my brother are the right people for the Nasser Racing Academy. We will have an extra two Can-Ams for female drivers. We also need to support them. I am quite happy to start with this project. It’s nice to see new people and new cars coming to compete.
“For me, I will do my best to get a good road position on the Qualifying Stage. The reason we are here in Qatar with Toyota is to continue the testing. This race was not in our programme. Kazakhstan was the plan but that race was cancelled. So we decided to come here and to test more things and get ready for the next race in Andalucia. I will also try and do some more testing before Andalucia.”
Kris Meeke arrived in Doha on Tuesday evening and will be taking part in his third event in Qatar, but this will be the Andorra-based Ulsterman’s first taste of Baja-style racing in the local desert.
He said: “I didn’t realise that I would be back in Qatar as quick, but Nasser called me last week and said there was an opportunity to do the Baja in T3 with a South Racing Can-Am. I thought, yes, why not. I’ve been here two times for the rally but the Baja is something different and something I would like to learn more. It’s more Dakar-orientated style of racing. I’m just excited to come again and try something new and a bit different. So many buggies here.”
“I have no idea really about the future. François (Cazalet) has been with the Red Bull Junior Team with the OT3. I called him last minute and he was able to come. Let’s see. I am working on some plans for the Dakar. But François has a seat with Cristina Gutierrez, so it’s just a one-off at the moment.”
Yasir Seaidan will drive the second of three Overdrive Racing-run Toyotas. The Saudi driver said: “I’ve been racing in Qatar already, maybe seven times. I started my first World Cup in T3 in 2012. It’s the most difficult rally for navigation and hard also for drivers, too much rocks and punctures. Drivers must be focused. It looks like you can drive fast but no – it’s very tricky!”
Meanwhile, the QMMF Team’s Rashid Al-Muhannadi confirmed that he had recruited the services of Szymon Gospodarczyk as his co-driver for the Baja. The Pole is better known as the regular navigator for fellow countryman Michal Goczal in the FIA World Rally-Raid Championship. Abdullah Al-Kuwari will be partnered by the Spanish off-road rider Marc Sola.
Six FIA drivers and four leading FIM bikers attended the pre-event press conference at the Losail International Circuit on Wednesday evening.
Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah, Ahmed Al-Kuwari and Sheikh Mohammed Al-Thani represented the host nation alongside Saudi Arabia’s Yazeed Al-Rajhi, the UAE’s Mohammed Al-Balooshi and Aliyyah Koloc, Kris Meeke, Dani Sordo, Jordanian Abdullah Abu Aishah, Polish junior rider Konrad Dabrowski and 2019 European Baja Champion Joanna Modrzewska.
The press conference took place in the presence of QMMF President Abdulrahman Al-Mannai and Executive Director Amro Al-Hamad.
Tomorrow (Thursday), riders will tackle a Qualifying Stage of 9.20km, with the first bike on stage from 15.00hrs. The time set will be multiplied by a co-efficient of four to encourage each rider to race competitively. The first of the FIA cars will start the special at 16.00hrs.
2022 Qatar International Baja – leading entries (updated March 23rd):
FIA – T1
200. Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah (QAT)/Mathieu Baumel (AND) Toyota GR DKR Hilux
201. Yazeed Al-Rajhi (SAU)/Michael Orr (GBR) Toyota Hilux Overdrive
202. Yasir Seaidan (SAU)/Laurent Lichtleuchter (FRA) Toyota Hilux Overdrive
204. Abdullah Al-Rabban (QAT)/Pedro Santos (PRT) Jeep
205. Khalid Al-Feraihi (SAU)/Ali Mirza (ARE) Nissan Pick-Up
FIA – T3
300. Saleh Al-Saif (SAU)/TBA Can-Am Maverick X3 RR
301. Ahmed Al-Kuwari (QAT)/Manuel Lucchese (QAT) Can-Am Maverick X3
302. Kris Meeke (AND)/François Cazalet (FRA) Can-Am Maverick X3
303. Dani Sordo (ESP)/Xavier Panseri (FRA) Can-Am Maverick X3
304. Aliyyah Koloc (ARE)/Sebastien Delaunay (FRA) Can-Am Maverick DV21
305. Ahmed Al-Muhannadi (QAT)/Mubarak Al-Khelaifi (QAT) Can-Am Maverick X3
FIA – T4
401. Camelia Liparoti (SMR)/Xavier Garcia (ESP) Yamaha YXZ 1000R
402. Khalifa Al-Attiyah (QAT)/Max Delfino (FRA) Can-Am Maverick XRS
403. Khalid Al-Muhannadi (QAT)/Nick Lines (NZL) Can-Am Maverick XRS
404. Rashid Al-Muhannadi (QAT)/Szymon Gospodarczyk (POL) Can-Am Maverick XRS
405. Sadoon Al-Kuwari (QAT)/Nasser Al-Kuwari (QAT) Can-Am Maverick XRS
FIM – Bikes
1. Mohammed Al-Balooshi (ARE) Husqvarna FR450
2. Konrad Dabrowski (POL) Husqvarna FR450
3. Abdulla Al-Shatti (KWT) KTM 450 Rally Replica
4. Thomas Kongshøj (DNK) Husqvarna FR450
5. Martin Chalmers (AUS) Yamaha WR 450F
6. Abdullah Abu Aishah (JOR) KTM 450 EXC-F
7. Robert Wallace (GBR) KTM 450 Rally Replica
8. Michael Anderson (RSA) KTM 450 EXC-F
9. Kurt Burroughs (GBR) KTM Rally
10. Alex McInnes (GBR) Husqvarna FE450
FIM – Quads
101. Emiel Stuckens (BEL) Can-Am DS450
102. Abdulmajeed Al-Khulaifi (SAU) Yamaha 700 CC
103. Hani Al-Noumesi (SAU) Yamaha
104. Faisal Al-Suwayh (SAU) Yamaha
105. Abdulaziz Al-Atawi (SAU) Yamaha YFZ 450
106. Sultan Al-Masoud (SAU) Yamaha YFZ 450
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Jordan Baja: FIA T4 category opens door for golden future
Aqaba (Jordan), 17 March 2021: The Jordan Baja gets underway in Aqaba on Thursday evening and sees Jordan Motorsport hosting its first international motor sporting event since September 2019.
Competitors from 15 nations will take part in the fourth round of the FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Bajas, round two of the FIM Bajas World Cup and a National Baja running behind the two international status events.
The FIA T4 category for modified production cross-country side-by-side (SxS) vehicles is one of the fastest growing categories in off-road rallying and five of the world’s leading protagonists in the category will line-up at the start of the Jordan Baja.
Cars such as the Can-Am Maverick X3, Polaris RZR 1000 and the Yamaha YXZ 1000 R have given newcomers and more experienced drivers the perfect introduction to one of the most challenging forms of all-terrain motor sport.
Events such as the Dakar Rally now offer two different SSV categories and the FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Bajas has its own championships for T4 drivers and teams.
Frenchman Claude Fournier has taken part in the opening three rounds of the 2021 Baja series in Russia, Dubai and Saudi Arabia and arrives in Aqaba with a 19.5-point advantage over Saudi Arabia’s Saleh Al-Saif in the standings. He first took part in the Dakar Rally back in 1991 and won the rookie category.
Fournier was victorious on the opening round and third and fourth places in the two Middle East events have given the Can-Am driver a solid foundation on which to build his title challenge with Polish co-driver Szymon Gospodarczyk.
“This is my first time in Jordan, as it was cancelled last year,” said Fournier, who has now retired from the family wine business that used to sell 2.5 million bottles per year. “I am told it is a very difficult challenge, particularly for the navigators, and it is also one where there is a lot of punctures due to rocks.
“I have also been told by everyone that it is a very beautiful event, so I am really looking forward to seeing Wadi Rum. I am not expecting many dunes.
“Of course, I hope to win, but I know it will be tough as the other drivers are very good. I am one of the oldest guys competing, at 69, but I am feeling fit and strong. I hope I can do well here to help me win the World Championship and also to set me up well for the five European events coming up next.”
Al-Saif is, perhaps, the favourite on the T4 starting list in Aqaba after claiming maximum points at the recent round in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province. Technical issues meant that he could only collect points for fifth place in Dubai, but he delivered a terrific performance two weeks ago to finish third overall and first in T4.
Al-Saif said: “Jordan Baja means a lot to me, as I performed well in the candidate version and won the T3 title. I love the Rum Desert. It resembles some regions of Saudi Arabia, such as Al-Ula and Tabuk, so I feel a familiarity with it and I also love this kind of terrain – sandy, rocky and wadis.
“I got used to the Jordan Baja after two previous versions. My eyes are now on the category title. My position is strong after winning Al-Sharqiyah Baja and advancing to second place in the T3 standings. My chances are strong in this rally. Our most prominent competitor will be Khalifa Saleh Al-Attiyah. He is a big name and I am happy that he is one of the participants in Jordan, as it will increase the pace and the competition. I am trying to participate in all rounds and I hope to win the title before the season ends.”
Meshari Al-Thefiri has been a regular visitor to Jordan to take part in the Dead Sea-based special stage round of the FIA Middle East Rally Championship and has a perfect opportunity to overhaul Al-Saif and put the pressure on Fournier in the title race.
The Kuwaiti will be taking part in the Jordan Baja for the first time at the wheel of the second of five South Racing-built Can-Ams on the entry list. He has already claimed a pair of second places on rounds two and three of the Baja series and teams up with Qatar’s Nasser Al-Kuwari for the second time this season.
“This is the fourth round of the Baja Championship and we are third overall and half a point behind Saleh Al-Saif,” said Al-Thefiri. “Our programme is to compete in all the rounds, finish the championship and try and be champions in T4.
“I decided to do this championship because three rounds are in the Middle East, so I want to make the maximum out of it. This is also a plus for the drivers in the region to be able to take part in this championship. I am part of a strong team at South Racing and have been amazed at the level of professionalism, regarding the set-up, and the organisation. The car is bullet-proof and comes close to the factory cars in terms of performance and specification.”
Pavel Lebedev, Saeed Al-Mouri and Laia Sanz have already scored points this season in T4 but none are present in Jordan. That leaves the door firmly open for Qatar’s Khalifa Saleh Al-Attiyah to challenge for a podium finish.
The brother of the illustrious Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah – a three-time Dakar Rally winner and 13-time Jordan Rally winner – has already finished ninth overall in the T4 section at the Dakar this year and secured victory at the second of the Ha’il Bajas last December. The Doha-based driver will be partnered by the experienced Frenchman Xavier Panseri for the first time.
UAE-based Thomas Bell runs the car preparations company Sabertooth Motoring Adventure out of Autodrome Motor City in Dubai. He drives the fifth of the Can-Ams in Jordan alongside Spanish navigator Armand Monleón, the latter being a successful rally rider in his own right and the former winner of the China Grand Rally on a KTM.
The duo tackled the recent Sharqiyah International Baja and set some competitive times before their T4 challenge came to an abrupt end on a treacherously muddy section of terrain near the coast.
On Thursday, competitors will carry out their pre-event scrutineering and administration checks from 9 am, after strict Covid-19 testing protocols were applied before individuals could gain access to the service park and rally headquarters.
Several of the top drivers and riders will then meet the media at the pre-event press conference on the Aqaba start podium from 6.25 pm local time, before the event gets underway from 7.39 pm on Thursday evening.
Competitors will then tackle two challenging sections of 210.72 km and 112.9 km on Friday and a further 236.06 km through the deserts to the north of Aqaba on Saturday.
FIA T4 Championship – standings after round 3:
1. Claude Fournier (FRA) 57.5pts
2. Saleh Al-Saif (SAU) 38pts
3. Meshari Al-Thefiri (KWT) 37.5 pts
4. Pavel Lebedev (RAF) 27 pts
5. Saeed Al-Mouri (SAU) 15.5 pts
6. Laia Sanz (ESP) 13 pts
