The Emirati cyclist, Mohammed Al Balushi, won his second consecutive world title and the third in his career in the World Motorcycle Championship (Baha), after he succeeded, yesterday, on his Yamaha 450YZ bike, in finishing the Dubai International Rally in second place, in the final round. From the World Desert Rally Championship for cars and bikes, which was held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence. Chairman of the Executive Council of the Emirate of Dubai.
To secure his world title, Al Balushi needed, on the third concluding day, to repeat his performance on the second day of the rally, and to come in second place, which was enough for him to finish the stages of the rally, which extended for a length of 718 kilometers, with a total time of six hours, 37 minutes and 41 seconds, three minutes behind. And 34 seconds behind the winner of the rally title, Polish cyclist Konrad Dabrowski, on his KTM bike.
The Director of the General Traffic Department at Dubai Police, Major General Saif Muhair Al Mazrouei, crowned the champions of the Dubai Rally in its eighth edition, in the presence of the Director of the Events and Processions Department at the Dubai Police, Colonel Abdullah Al Kash, the Executive Director of the Emirates Car and Motorcycle Organization (the organizing body), Maher Al Badri, and the Director Executive Director of Government Affairs at Al-Futtaim Group, Yousef Al-Raisi, and a number of representatives of companies sponsoring the event.
Al Balushi is happy with the performance
For his part, the Emirati champion, Mohammed Al Balushi, said in press statements: “I am happy with the performance I presented, despite my aspirations to end the season in the best way and win the Dubai Rally, the runner-up position was enough for me to win the World Champion title for the second year in a row and the third in my career after the overall title.” 2018.
«Quads» category
The distinguished Emirati results in the rally continued, after the driver, Abdulaziz Ahli, was able to retain the Dubai International Rally title for the second year in a row in the “quad” category, by completing the total stages of the rally in a time of seven hours and 50 minutes on board his Yamaha Raptor 700R bike. And 54 seconds, one hour, 49 minutes and 22 seconds ahead of the second-place finisher, Saudi Abdulaziz Al-Shaiban.
Al-Attiyah retains the title… and the world championship goes to Ferreira
The top car category (T1) competitions recorded the success of the veteran Qatari driver, Nasser Al-Attiyah, accompanied by his Spanish navigator, Pablo Moreno, in retaining the Dubai Rally title, after a second day during which he was able to put pressure on his “Taurus T3 Max” car, and take the lead with a total time of six hours. 20 minutes and 34 seconds.
Second place in the overall standings of the “Car” category was enough for Portuguese driver João Ferreira and his navigator, Felipe Palmeiro, to clinch the title of world champion, after they completed, in their “X-Ride Mini,” the stages of the rally, which extended a total of 867 kilometers, three minutes and 14 minutes behind. A second ahead of Al-Attiyah, the leader.
. Al Balushi won the title for the second time in a row and the third in his career.
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