Al Balooshi makes history as UAE dominates Dubai International Baja 2025
Female trailblazer Ben Natan secures women’s world cup victory
DUBAI – The Dubai International Baja 2025 has concluded in dramatic fashion in the sweeping sands of Al Qudra desert, as UAE’s motorsport heroes delivered standout performances against a backdrop of global racing talent, advanced machinery and high-stakes competition.
The three-day event, featuring 270km of the demanding Zayed and Rashid Stage 3, marked the final round of both the FIA and FIM Baja World Cups and showcased the UAE’s growing stature as a world-class motorsport hub.
Emirati excellence
Mohammed Al Balooshi of the UAE etched his name in history by clinching a record fourth FIM Bajas World Cup title. Demonstrating consistency, endurance and technical mastery, Al Balooshi dominated across the harsh Hatta mountain terrain and Al Qudra dunes. His milestone solidified him as the most successful Emirati in international baja motorcycling and one of the sport’s leading figures globally.
In the Quads category, the UAE celebrated another homegrown champion. Abdulaziz Ahli overcame mechanical challenges during the final stage but maintained a strong advantage to secure victory by more than 15 minutes. Although Poland’s Marcin Wilkolek took the final stage, Ahli’s commanding lead sealed another dominant Baja performance in Dubai.
Cars podium
In the cars division, Argentina’s Juan Cruz Yacopini, alongside co-driver Dani Oliveras, powered to victory with a total time of 6:04:32.5. It marked his first Dubai Baja triumph and his fifth win of the season in six appearances, further strengthening the dominance of the Toyota Hilux team. Seth Quintero and Andrew Short, driving the brand-new DKR GR Hilux, finished second with a gap of +1:05.9, despite a five-minute penalty for speeding in Stage 1. Their performance showcased the competitive debut of the new-generation Hilux race machine, built with a reinforced transmission, higher torsional stiffness and reduced weight.
Toby Price, a two-time Dakar Rally motorcycle champion, made an impressive transition to four wheels. Driving a 2025-spec Hilux EVO with Armand Monleón, he finished third overall, +3:00.1 behind the lead, and set the fastest time on Stage 2. The top five standings also included M. Prokop and V. Chytka of Orlen Jipocar Team in fourth, and M. Van den Brink with B. Van Heun of South Racing Can-Am in fifth.
Elite rally technology
Toyota Gazoo Racing W2RC closed the 2025 season with a double podium and used the Dubai International Baja as a performance test for the Dakar Rally 2026, scheduled in Saudi Arabia from 3–17 January. The DKR GR Hilux recorded the fastest times in both the Prologue and Stage 1, marking a strong debut for the vehicle. The team highlighted its strategy of using Dubai’s dunes as a proving ground for extreme endurance readiness.
“This has been a really good test for us and the new DKR GR Hilux. To complete around 400 kilometres of intense racing with no issues on a new car is impressive,” said Quintero, reflecting on the weekend. Price also praised the experience, noting, “I definitely learned a lot during my first time in the car. We leave Dubai having learned a lot, with a podium and a stage win.”
Women’s triumph
The event also witnessed history in women’s rally racing. Israeli rider Alona Ben Natan claimed the women’s title in the FIM Bajas World Cup after finishing second in Dubai. She became the first Israeli member of the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme Women’s Committee and the first Israeli female competitor in major rallies in Morocco and Dubai. Covering 842 kilometres in two days, Ben Natan described Dubai’s dunes as a true test of resilience, strategy and endurance.