LUSAIL, Qatar: Francisco Barreto, Konrad Dąbrowski and Abdulaziz Al-Ahli topped the car, motorcycle and quad categories respectively as competitive action began at the Qatar International Baja on Thursday.
The trio set the fastest times in their respective categories during the 11.12km Prologue, marking the start of the penultimate rounds of the FIA World and Middle East Baja Cups and Round 5 of the FIM Bajas World Cup.
The official start ceremony at Lusail featured 37 cars, 45 motorcycles and eight quads. The event was attended by Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF) President Abdulrahman Al-Mannai, Executive Director Amro Al-Hamad, board member Abdulrazaq Al-Kuwari and Dutch Ambassador Ferdinand Lahnstein.
Barreto Beats Al-Attiyah in Car Category
Portuguese driver Francisco Barreto, alongside navigator Paulo Fiúza in an SVR Toyota Hilux, set the benchmark with a time of 7 minutes and 6.9 seconds. Despite receiving a five-second penalty for touching a gate, Barreto finished 12.1 seconds ahead of title rival Saood Variawa, who lost time in the dust behind Lionel Baud.
Remarkably, Barreto also held a 12.1-second advantage over Qatar’s multiple event winner Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah. The local favourite, driving an Optimus MD Rallye, suffered a puncture towards the end of the stage and also received a five-second penalty.
Barreto expressed satisfaction with his performance but stressed that the main challenge lay ahead.
“We are really happy. No mistakes. Maybe the guys behind had a little bit of dust because we started minute-by-minute, but it was a good result for us. The race starts tomorrow. We need to be smart and focused,” he said.
Al-Attiyah remained optimistic despite the setback, saying the puncture had cost him time. He expects a demanding challenge in Friday’s longer stage.
In the Challenger class, Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari and Nouef Al-Sowaidi delivered strong performances for Qatar, finishing ahead of Mitchel van den Brink and Bart van Heun, who placed sixth overall.
Dąbrowski Leads Motorcycle Field
Defending motorcycle winner Konrad Dąbrowski made an impressive start to his title defence, clocking 7 minutes and 15.1 seconds on his KTM 450. The Polish rider finished just 1.3 seconds ahead of FIM championship leader Alex McInnes.
Romain Dumontier secured third place, while Robert Wallace finished fourth. Slovenian veteran Simon Marčič completed the top five.
Dąbrowski, a three-time Qatar event winner, said the tight contest had provided a positive start to his preparations for the Dakar Rally. All 45 motorcycle riders completed the Prologue.
Al-Ahli Sets the Pace in Quads
Defending quad champion Abdulaziz Al-Ahli of the United Arab Emirates topped the category on his Yamaha Raptor, finishing 7.3 seconds ahead of compatriot Khalifa Al-Bastaki. Al-Bastaki subsequently received an additional penalty for losing his time card.
Saudi Arabia’s Hani Al-Noumesi led his country’s contingent, while FIM series leader Ahmed Al-Jaber also featured among the leading competitors.
Gruelling Desert Stage Awaits
Friday’s action promises a major test, with competitors facing a demanding 336.45km selective section across Qatar’s northern, western and central deserts.
The stage, comparable in length to challenges encountered in the World Rally-Raid Championship and Dakar Rally, is expected to test endurance, navigation and mechanical reliability.
The first motorcycle is scheduled to start at 6:55am, followed by the leading car at 9am, as competitors prepare for one of the event’s most challenging stages.
