The race took the competitors on a 7 lap course through the desert near Sharjah on Friday the 7th of March 2008. The race has a reputation for being one of the toughest race series' in the UAE, with more than 60 participants in the motorcycle and quad category, and another day of exciting racing was on the cards even before the start.
UAE National and race favorite Khalid Khamis was leading by 5 minutes after the first lap of the 7 lap, 200 kilometer Baja Desert Race when he crashed jumping a big Dune section. He nevertheless managed to continue with the help of the KTM pit crew. Khamis lost eight precious minutes due to the crash, but he continues fighting his way through the field and remarkably managed to make up enough lost time to finish a highly creditable 2nd. As the winner of the last Baja two weeks ago, Khamis had high hopes of a repeat performance but had to be content with a second place finish in the 3rd round. "I was leading comfortably until I crashed, but thanks to my Team and the bike I managed to fight back to finish in 2nd place" said Khamis, with mixed feelings.
The 3rd Round of the Baja Off-road Desert Race was a successful one for the KTM-UAE Team with Tim Trenker, riding a KTM 530 EXC-R, managing to finish 3rd in the bike category. Sebastian Husseini rounded off a good day for KTM-UAE by finishing second in the quad category riding a KTM 525 ATV, and it could have been even better if he wasn't overtaken just 20 meters before the finish line.
-Ends-
Note: the pictures are available in higher resolution upon request.
General KTM picture material can be downloaded from www.ktmimages.com or by accredited journalists from the KTM website at: www.ktmpress.com
For further information on KTM and its products, please visit the website www.ktm.com or contact Petra van Zoelen,
KTM Marketing Manager,
Tel: +971 4 323 5151,
Fax: +971 4 323 5252
e-mail: petra@ktm.ae
© Press Release 2008
