Emirati Trio Face Pressure as Title Race Hots up in Desert Championship

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Dubai, UAE, 19 October, 2014:  The Emirati trio of Ahmad Al Fahim, Mohammed Al Balooshi and Humaid Al Mashghouni can expect to come under immediate pressure as they each attempt to build on a winning start to the new season in the Emirates Desert Championship this weekend.

Al Fahim and Al Balooshi lead the overall cars and bikes categories respectively heading into the second round of the series on Friday, while Al Mashghouni tops the quads standings following a record-breaking launch to the 2014-15 season.

The first of six rounds attracted 100 starters on four and two wheels, and that number could rise again when Round Two action unfolds during another short course event staged in the Dubai desert.

Defending overall cars champion Al Fahim leads the title race after another impressive display in his Polaris, but Mansour Al Helei, Ian Barker and Emil Kneisser in a succession of Nissan Patrols and Graham Rose and Chris Jackson in Polaris and Can Am buggies are among the chasing pack.

While Al Balooshi has made his name as a top class moto-cross rider, capturing a string of Arab championship titles, he has now set his sights on more success in the Desert Championship and leads the fiercely contested overall bikes standings from Kuwait’s  Mohammed Jaffar, also riding a KTM.

Competition is also tough in the quads class, where Al Mashghouni is the early championship leader after a powerful first round display when he edged out Dutch rider Sebastian Husseini, who finished third in this year’s Dakar Rally.

Organised by the Emirates Motor Sport Federation, with TAG Heuer Middle East as the official timekeeper and founding partner, the Emirates Desert Championship is run with the support of the Automobile and Touring Club of the UAE.

“The series has captured the imagination of drivers and riders alike and created a genuine buzz of excitement,” said ATCUE President, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, the FIA Vice President. “Attracting 100 competitors for the last round was a milestone, and we’re sure the championship will continue to grow in popularity this season and in the years ahead.”

The second round gets under way at 9am on Friday, with the bikes and quads running on one loop and the cars and buggies competing on another at the same time, all aiming to complete as many laps as fast as possible over a window of approximately two hours.

With practice prohibited, the route will be announced later in the week while more details can be found on the Emirates Desert Championship Facebook page, and at www.emsf.ae which also carries event regulations and entry forms.

Emirates Desert Championship 2014-15 standings after  1st Round:

Cars overall
1. Ahmed Al Fahim (UAE) Polaris T3  25pts
2. Mansour Al Helei (UAE) Nissan T2  22pts
3. Graeme Rose (GB) Polaris T3  20pts
4. Ian Barker (GB) Nissan T1   18pts
5. Emil Kneisser (Leb) Nissan Patrol T2 16pts
6. Chris Jackson (GB) Can AM   15pts

Bikes overall
1. Mohammed Al Balooshi (UAE) KTM 450  25pts
2. Mohammed Jaffar (KWT) KTM 450  22pts
3. Ross Runnalls (SA) Kawasaki 450   20pts
4. Mark Ackerman (SA) Husqvarna 450  18pts
5. Mark Grams (D) Honda 450    16pts
6. Sam Smith (GB) Yamaha 450   15pts

Quads
1. Humaid Al Mashghouni (UAE) Honda  25pts
2. Sebastian Husseini (Ned) Yamaha   22pts
3. Colin Mercer (GB) Honda    20pts
4. Jaco De Lange (SA) Yamaha    18pts
5. Colin Wilken (SA) Yamaha    16pts
6. Alex MacFarlane (GB) KTM    15pts