LUSAIL: Qatar’s Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah and French navigator Max Delfino clinched their respective FIA Middle East Baja Cup titles with an emphatic victory at the 2026 Qatar International Baja on Saturday.
Al-Attiyah entered the final day with a 6-minute, 15.3-second advantage over Francisco Barreto of Portugal and his navigator Paulo Fiúza. The Qatari driver maintained his lead across the challenging southern desert stages before securing victory by 29 minutes and 8.7 seconds.
The result marked Al-Attiyah’s record 13th victory at his home off-road event since 2004 and his first triumph in the competition since 2023. He also claimed his maiden Middle East Baja Cup title.
Barreto finished second despite losing more than 18 minutes during the final stage due to navigational difficulties. However, his runner-up finish strengthened his position at the top of the FIA World Baja Cup standings ahead of the final round in the United Arab Emirates next weekend.
Al-Attiyah said the demanding stages required careful tyre management and praised his team’s performance. He also confirmed plans to compete in the Dubai International Baja, followed by the Jeddah event and the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge.
Dąbrowski Makes History with Fourth Bike Victory
Polish rider Konrad Dąbrowski made history by becoming the first motorcyclist to win the Qatar International Baja four times, having previously triumphed in 2022, 2023 and 2025.
Riding for Duust Rally Team, Dąbrowski secured the overall victory by 5 minutes and 12 seconds, surpassing the three victories recorded by Spain’s Marc Coma in 2012, 2013 and 2015.
Dąbrowski maintained his advantage despite navigation challenges and the physically demanding Sealine dunes. Britain’s Alex McInnes finished second, boosting his FIM Bajas World Cup title hopes, while France’s Romain Dumontier secured third place on his Qatar debut.
Dumontier won the final stage by 1 minute and 58 seconds ahead of McInnes, but Dąbrowski’s consistent performance proved decisive in the overall standings.
Al-Bastaki Triumphs in Quad Category
Emirati rider Khalifa Al-Bastaki secured victory in the quad category on his Yamaha, holding on to his overnight advantage to finish ahead of compatriot Abdulaziz Ahli.
Hani Al-Noumesi completed the podium after stopping to assist an injured rider and subsequently receiving time compensation.
In the Challenger car category, Qatar’s Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari and Spanish navigator Oriol Mena finished third overall in their QMMF-backed Can-Am Challenger.
Meanwhile, Qatar’s Abdulla Al-Rabban won the section for series-production cross-country vehicles in a Nissan Patrol for the third consecutive year.
Championship Battle Moves to Dubai
The 2026 Qatar International Baja delivered important championship points across the FIA and FIM categories, with several title battles set to continue at the Dubai International Baja next weekend.
Al-Attiyah celebrated a landmark home victory, while Dąbrowski strengthened his reputation as one of the leading competitors in cross-country motorcycle rallying.
The UAE round will provide the next opportunity for competitors to consolidate their championship positions as the season approaches its conclusion.
