Balooshi claims maiden success in Africa

Dubai - His participation was aimed to raise awareness about the sport across the Arab world

Mohammed Al Balooshi, FIM Bajas World Cup Winner and UAE multiple Motocross Champion, claimed his first victory on African soil, with an outstanding performance at the second edition of the Rallye Mauritania.
Al Balooshi happily accepted the invitation received from the Feddration Mauritanienne des Sports Mecaniques (FMSM) and signed up to compete in the desert rally based in the coastal city of Nouakchott, the capital of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, but also with the target in mind of supporting the development of the sport in the country.
His participation as the most awarded Arab off-road rider, and newly crowned FIM World Bajas reigning champion, was aimed to raise awareness about the sport across the Arab world, as well as to increase competitiveness and spread encouragement to the local riders competing in the north west African region.
"I had the privilege to participate in this rally for the first time in Mauritania, following to the FMSM's special invitation, and I couldn't be happier with the results. The race was amazing, very well organised, and I feel grateful for having the opportunity to share these days with so many talented African riders. All went very well for me, and I'm very happy to go home with a win," said Al Balooshi after two days of gruelling racing through the soft and golden sands of the Sahara Desert.
Mauritania, one of the largest countries in the African continent and whose Berber land has been home for decades to legendary international marathon rally-raid races such as Dakar Rally and Africa Eco Race, has - as the entire region does - a strong motorsport tradition, as well as the perfect playground for off-road activities.
The rally line-up included a large number of riders from African countries such as Angola, Senegal, Algeria, Tunisia and the host country Mauritania, of course, with Mohammed Al Balooshi being the sole representative of the UAE present at the meeting.
The Mauritanian International Baja was held on the outskirts of Nouakchott - one of the largest cities in the Sahara, concentrating 30 per cent of the country's 4.5M population - and ran across the Sahara Desert in a compact format of two day's racing. Al Balooshi's victory on Berber soil comes as his maiden win in Africa, and follows his historical FIM Bajas World Title, clinched a few months ago in Hungary, which constitutes a milestone in history of the UAE's motorsport and the Arab World, being the first FIM world title won for the UAE in the motorcycle category.