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Rally motorcyclist on a dusty gravel track with mountains in the background

Qatar International Baja: Dąbrowski wins prologue narrowly ahead of McInnes

Published by Thomas Menzel on 30. October 2026

Series: FIM

Konrad Dąbrowski won the motorcycle prologue of the Qatar International Baja on Thursday, 29 October 2026. The Pole took 7 minutes and 15.1 seconds for the 11.12 kilometres, finishing just 1.3 seconds ahead of Alex McInnes, the leader of the FIM Bajas World Cup. This is according to the MFE Live report, which includes the published results list. The report does not make clear whether this is the official or a provisional classification.

For the motorcycles, the event in Qatar is the fifth round of the FIM Bajas World Cup; for the cars, it is the penultimate round of both the FIA World Baja Cup and the FIA Middle East Baja Cup. After the start ceremony in Lusail, 37 cars, 45 motorcycles and eight quads set off, according to MFE Live.

Dąbrowski sets the pace, McInnes stays close

Dąbrowski was the first motorcyclist onto the stage, riding the KTM 450 of Duust Rally Team. His best time was only confirmed once the last riders had finished. He has already won in Qatar in 2022, 2023 and 2025. “It went really well, but it was close. A little more than a second to Alex,” Dąbrowski said, according to MFE Live (translated). He sees the start in Qatar as part of his preparation for the Dakar Rally.

Motorcyclist in rally gear riding through a sand dune
Archive photo: Konrad Dąbrowski at the 2025 Qatar International Baja, which he won. Photo: photographer not named, via MFE Live

Behind the two leaders there was a clear gap. Romain Dumontier, a former 125cc Enduro World Champion and the 2023 winner of the Rally 2 classification in the FIM Rally-Raid World Cup, finished third, 30.3 seconds behind. He had started far back in the field. Robert Wallace (KTM 450 EXC) and Simon Marčič (Kove) completed the top five. All 45 motorcyclists reached the finish.

Prologue motorcycles, top 10 (time in min:sec)

  1. Konrad Dąbrowski (POL), KTM 450 Rally Replica, 7:15.1
  2. Alex McInnes (GBR), KTM 450 RFR, 7:16.4
  3. Romain Dumontier (FRA), KTM 450 Rally Factory, 7:45.4
  4. Robert Wallace (GBR), KTM 450 EXC, 7:52.2
  5. Simon Marčič (SLO), Kove 450 Rally EX, 7:53.3
  6. Michael Anderson (POR), KTM 450 RFR, 8:19.7
  7. Toni Mulec (SLO), KTM 450 Rally Replica, 8:20.5
  8. Ethan Lane (GBR), KTM 450 Rally, 8:20.6 (including 5-second penalty)
  9. Mohammed Al-Balooshi (UAE), KTM 450 RR, 8:20.9
  10. Makis Rees-Stavros (GBR), KTM EXC F450, 8:36.1

Toni Mulec, the Rally 2 winner at the most recent Dakar Rally, took seventh place. Mohammed Al-Balooshi of the United Arab Emirates, who has already won in Qatar twice, was ninth. Abdulhalim Al-Mogheera of Saudi Arabia, described by MFE Live as McInnes’s direct rival at the top of the overall standings, does not appear in the published top 15. A heavy rain shower hit the region towards the end of the prologue.

A broad field from 17 countries

Before the start, MFE Live had already announced 45 motorcyclists and eight quad entries in its preview of 28 October 2026. The motorcyclists come from 17 countries. Philip Horlemann, Tony Schattat and Anton Tyll are on the entry list from Germany; their prologue times are not included in the published top 15. Qatar itself is represented by Mohammed Al-Kubaisi (Fanatic XEF 450 Rally) and Abdulattif Mojadam (Husqvarna FE 450).

Rally motorcyclist with number 28 riding on a dusty gravel track with mountains in the background
Archive photo: Tony Schattat of Germany at the 2025 Dubai International Baja. Photo: photographer not named, via MFE Live

According to the preview, the route runs over two days through the deserts in the north, centre and south of Qatar. Administrative and technical checks were scheduled at the Lusail International Circuit on Wednesday, 28 October.

Quads: Ahli starts title defence with the fastest time

In the quads, last year’s winner Abdulaziz Ahli (UAE) was fastest on his Yamaha Raptor 700, 33.6 seconds ahead of Hani Al-Noumesi (KSA). Third place went to Ahmed Al-Jaber (KSA), the leader of the FIM Bajas World Cup in the quads. Ahli’s compatriot Khalifa Al-Bastaki was classified fifth after a time penalty and a further penalty for losing his time card.

Friday: 336.45 kilometres of special stage

The first long stage takes place on Friday, 30 October 2026. The special stage, the section run against the clock, is 336.45 kilometres long and leads through the deserts in the north, west and centre of Qatar. MFE Live compares the length with a stage of the W2RC World Rally-Raid Championship or the Dakar Rally. According to the schedule, the first motorcycle was due to start at 6:55 local time. Results of this stage were not yet available at the time of going to press.

Sources and photo credits

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