The Dubai International Baja rounded off the 2024 season with a race dominated by Konrad Dabrowski (KTM Duust). Winner of the Prologue, the young Pole didn’t mess around and won the first special stage before securing victory on the second run through the UAE’s Al-Qudra desert.
Dabrowski has not competed in the FIM Bajas World Cup this year and has been concentrating on rallies but this Baja provided excellent training for the 23-year-old, who claimed the overall laurels and top spot in the Junior category.
With David Megre, his main rival for the FIM Bajas World Cup, absent, Mohammed Al-Balooshi (Yamaha) was able to secure his second career title. The Emirati would have liked to have rounded off the season with a victory but finished in a fine second place on home terrain, followed by his brother Sultan, who climbed on to the third step of the podium.
Junior rider Alex McInnes (Husqvarna) won the second special but fell short of the podium because he had missed a waypoint the previous day and incurred a 15-minute time penalty that dropped him to fourth. The Briton still finished second in the Junior category.
Sixth in the Baja, Polish rider Filip Grot had a nice lead with 81 points and was crowned the new winner of the FIM Bajas World Cup Junior category. In the Veterans’ class, Rafic Eid (GasGas) finished eighth overall 450cc but Portuguese rival Pedro Bianchi Prata (Honda) was 10th and had enough of a lead in the Cup to keep the crown.
Joanna Modrzewska (Husqvarna) was unchallenged on her way to becoming the Queen of the Bajas with the Ladies’ crown. She was classified in 18th position in 450cc but her only rival Aishwarysa Pissay fell without serious injury and didn’t finish the Baja.
In the quad category, Emirati Abdulaziz Ahli won the Prologue and the two specials and claimed victory in the section. Hani Al-Noumesi won the FIM Bajas World Cup in the quad category but suffered a troubled Baja in Dubai. He failed to finish stage one because of a fuel pump issue and was given a two-hour penalty. The Saudi did start the final stage and finished in fourth position behind his rival Abdulaziz Al-Shayban and Abdulaziz Al-Atawi. Al-Shayban was unable to make the Prologue after suffering electrical issues.
After covering a route of 867km over three gruelling days of the Dubai International Baja, riders will receive their awards on the podium and the champions of 2024 will be crowned.

Source: FIM