Al-Attiyah,Abu Aishah and Al-Ahli lead after Prologue stage of Saudi Baja-Hail 02.02.2023: 2023 SAUDI BAJA–HAIL (February 2nd-4th, 2023) FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Bajas, round 1 FIA Middle East for Cross-Country Bajas, round 1 Saudi Toyota Desert Rally Championship, round 1 FIM Bajas World Cup, round 1 Thursday, February 2nd,

2023 SAUDI BAJA–HAIL (February 2nd-4th, 2023)   
FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Bajas, round 1  
FIA Middle East for Cross-Country Bajas, round 1
Saudi Toyota Desert Rally Championship, round 1
FIM Bajas World Cup, round 1  
Thursday, February 2nd, 2023





Qatar’s Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah, Jordanian rider Abdullah Abu Aishah and Emirati racer Abdulaziz Ahli set the quickest times in their respective car, motorcycle and quad categories on the short Prologue stage that got the competitive action underway at the 2023 Saudi Baja-Hail on Thursday afternoon.  



The short stage was increased to 4.08km in length and Al-Attiyah and co-driver Mathieu Baumel moved into a 12-second lead in the cars with the fastest time of 2min 57sec.



Saudi driver Saleh Al-Saif and his Qatari navigator Nasser Al-Kuwari were second quickest and led the T3 lightweight prototype category in their Team Black Horse Can-Am Maverick X3, while defending FIA T4 champion Cristiano Batista and Fausto Moto finished the stage in third and topped the T4 standings in their South Racing Can-Am.  



The opening round of the 2023 FIA World and Middle East Cups for Cross-Country Bajas, the FIM Bajas World Cup and the Saudi Toyota National Rally Championship attracted 26 starters in the FIA section, 26 FIM motorcycles and three quads. An impressive number of cars and bikes have also entered the national status event.



They were flagged away from the ceremonial start at Maghwat by H.R.H. Prince Khalid bin Sultan Al-Abdullah Al-Faisal, Chairman of the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation (SAMF), H.R.H. Prince Abdulaziz bin Saad bin Abdulaziz, Governor of the Hail Region, and H.R.H. Prince Faisal bin Fahd bin Muqrin, Deputy Emir of the Hail Region.



Several leading drivers and riders had already attended the official pre-event press conference on Wednesday evening.



The stage times for the bikes and quads were multiplied by a co-efficient to give more of an incentive for riders to set a competitive time rather than relying on a tactical race strategy.



The talented young Jordanian rider Abdullah Abu Aishah got the better of his rival and friend Mohammed Al-Balooshi to win the motorcycle section on his KTM Amman-Darwazah Motors Rally Team bike. His Emirati MX Ride Dubai rival came home in second place and Great Britain’s Alex McInnes finished third. Local rider Abdulhalim Al-Mogheera and SRG Motorsport’s Emirati Abdullah Lanjawi rounded off the top five.



Abdulaziz Ahli beat the defending champion Haitham Al-Tuwaijri to top the times in the quads. Hani Al-Noumesi came home in third place.



The Baja is being managed by the Saudi Motorsport Company, in conjunction with the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation (SAMF) and the Ministry of Sport and in partnership with Abdul Latif Jameel (ALJ) Motors.




Friday



The first of two selective sections through the neighbouring deserts starts at Jubbah on Friday morning and runs for 230km across rolling desert, gravel tracks and some sand dunes. The first bike is scheduled to start the competitive section at 08.40hrs, with the leading car taking the start at 10.17hrs.





-Neil Perkins, photos SAMF