“The season got off to the best possible start at the FIM Saudi International Baja. It was a perfect weekend for me, winning every stage and leading for almost every kilometre of the race. Everything clicked, and racing on terrain that the Dakar Rally passes through made it ideal preparation. It really helped me improve both my navigation and riding, and I finished with a lead of just under 35 minutes, which was a great confidence boost.”

“From there, we headed straight to the FIM Jordan International Baja, which was my first time racing in Jordan. The event was held in the Wadi Rum desert, with some seriously cool terrain and landscapes similar to Petra. I decided early on to focus on winning, qualifying to get the best possible start position for the stages, and that plan paid off.”

“In Stage 1 I found a good flow and managed to take the stage win with a solid gap. That meant on the final day I could ride smart, manage the race, and bring it home for the overall win. It was also a really valuable experience, opening more kilometres and spending extra time reading the roadbook in proper race conditions.”

“Next up is the World Championship round in Portugal, where the aim is simple: maximise points and keep the momentum going.�

“The past five weeks have been non-stop, with thousands of kilometres travelled across the Middle East and a packed schedule of back-to-back races. It all began in Abu Dhabi for the opening round of the UAE Rally Championship, where the season kicked off strongly with a third overall, racing on a new bike and with my new team, Sherco UAE.”

“Just days later, we were in Qassim, Saudi Arabia for Round 2 of the Saudi Championship. The pace was strong from the start, and I built a solid lead in Stage 1, going three minutes faster than anyone through the early checkpoints. Unfortunately, a catastrophic mechanical issue ended the race early with a blown gearbox.”

“From there, we moved straight to Qatar for the Qatar International Baja. After an engine change in the pits, things were looking positive. I held second overall through the first two stages with 250km left to race. On the final stage, I was on for a stage win, but after catching the lead rider, a GPS failure caused the bike to pick up an incorrect waypoint too early. The resulting penalty dropped me to 7th overall.”

“The following week, we were back in Qatar for the penultimate round of the Qatar Off Road Championship, where I delivered a comfortable win and took over the championship lead.”

“Finally, this weekend we wrapped up the run at the Dubai International Baja. Day 1 could not have gone better. I opened a five-minute lead at home in the dunes, enjoying every moment. Day 2 meant the challenge of opening the stage, and I gave it absolutely everything, reaching the finish first. Unfortunately, it was not quite enough, missing out on the overall win by just 35 seconds. So close this year, just out of reach.�

Solid Prologue Sets the Stage

“Alex kicked off the rally with a confident run in the prologue, finishing just outside the top 10 – an ideal starting position for the first full stage. With momentum on his side and a perfect spot to chase down the leading pack, he was ready to battle it out with the factory riders.�

Stage 1: Speed Meets Setback

“The opening stage started on a high, with Alex quickly catching the rider ahead and mixing it up with the sport’s elite. However, disaster struck when an electrical issue caused his bike to shut off, costing him over 35 minutes to resolve. Though he pushed hard to recover, the damage to his overall time was done.�

Stage 2: More Misfortune

“Determined to bounce back, Alex attacked Stage 2 with his usual intensity. Once again, he was off to a strong start – until a heavy impact damaged the chassisÌý²¹²Ô»åÌýsnapped the main axle. Forced to limp to the refuel point and take the tarmac back to the pits, it was another gut-wrenching setback.â€�

Stage 3: The Final Blow

“With the bike repaired overnight, Stage 3 brought both hope and risk. Alex pushed hard, clocking top-10 times through the early checkpoints. But the lingering damage to the chassis caught up with him – another hard impact snapped the axle again, ending his rally with a DNF.

“It wasn’t the result Alex had hoped for, but his pace and determination were clear. With eyes already set on the next race, he’ll be back – stronger and hungrier than ever.

“Onto the next…�