World champion in desert motorcycle racing, Mohammed Al Balushi, has expressed his ambition to secure his third title in the renowned Dubai International Rally “Baja,” which kicks off tomorrow with the opening stage at the Mushrif National Park in Dubai and continues until November 8. This event marks the season finale for the FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Rallies in the car category and serves as the penultimate round for the motorcycle category in the global championship.
Aiming for a Historic Win in Dubai
Al Balushi, who clinched the world championship titles in 2018 and 2023 and is aiming for future accolades in 2024 and 2025, is keen to leverage the dual advantages of home ground and local support to add another victory to his impressive record at the Dubai Rally. He previously won the Dubai leg in both 2018 and 2023.
Building on Strong Competition
The seasoned racer is vying for an additional 25 points that would enhance his chances in the world championship standings, where he currently sits in third place with 56 points. He trails behind British competitor Alex McInnes, who leads with 78 points, and Saudi rider Abdulhalim Al Mugheera in second place with 60 points.
A Special Connection to Dubai Rally
Speaking to “Emarat Al Youm,” Al Balushi stated, “Winning in Dubai always has a special taste for me, and I am looking forward to capitalising on my home ground advantage to clinch the title in this exceptional rally, which celebrates its 10th anniversary.” He reflected, “The Dubai Desert Rally has always been a witness to my crowning as world champion.” Al Balushi aims to give his utmost to win the rally and secure crucial points that would bolster his position in the world standings before heading directly to the season finale in Portugal on November 13.
Overcoming Challenges
Al Balushi’s pursuit of his third Dubai International Rally title also represents an opportunity to compensate for what he described as a challenging season. “The joy of victory in front of the Emirati crowd will be a perfect reward for a very tough season. Earlier this year, I suffered a fracture in my hand during the Dakar Rally. Despite the injury, I insisted on participating in the opening round of the world championship in Baja Hail, Saudi Arabia, and succeeded in clinching first place and valuable points,” he noted. “Although I started strong in the world championship, the following rounds did not yield satisfactory results as I lost precious points due to various mechanical issues, with the latest setback occurring last week at the fifth round in Baja Qatar due to a navigation system problem that dropped me from third to tenth place during the final day of the rally.”
Aiming for Glory in the Emirates
Al Balushi concluded, “The 10th anniversary celebration of Baja Dubai is a goal that the elite riders of the world are striving to accomplish, and it is the same goal I aspire to achieve, providing a strong morale boost in front of the Emirati audience before heading to the upcoming finale in Portugal.”