Alex McInnes has wrapped up the 2026 FIM Bajas World Cup title with a dominant performance at the Dubai International Baja, winning the Prologue and both special stages to secure the championship with one round to spare.
The Dubai-based British rider entered the event leading the World Cup standings following the previous round in Qatar and refused to settle for a conservative ride, attacking throughout the weekend aboard his KTM.
McInnes opened the event by winning the 4.80km Prologue on Friday, November 6, which was held at Dubai’s Mushrif Park for the first time.
The competition then moved into the Al-Qudra desert for two demanding special stages measuring 193.90km and 191.58km, with riders battling through the region’s rolling sand dunes.
McInnes continued his dominance across both stages, recording the fastest times to complete a clean sweep of the event and secure the Junior category victory.
He finished 6min 35.6sec ahead of fellow Briton Ethan Lane, while Slovenian Toni Mulec was a further 7min 41.8sec behind in third, finishing 14min 17.4sec off McInnes.
The result confirmed McInnes as the 2026 FIM Bajas World Cup champion before the final round of the season.
Lane, competing in the Dubai International Baja for the first time, delivered a strong performance to finish second and move to 71 points in the World Cup standings.
Saudi Arabian rider Abdulhalim Al-Mogheera failed to score after finishing 22nd, leaving him on 60 points.
Two-time Dubai International Baja winner Konrad Dąbrowski was unable to repeat his success from 2024 and 2025, finishing fourth aboard his Duust KTM.
The Polish rider missed the podium but finished ahead of Frenchman Romain Dumontier, who completed the top five.
It was a disastrous event for outgoing FIM champion Mohammed Al-Balooshi, whose hopes of a strong home result unravelled across the weekend.
The Emirati rider struggled during the Prologue before encountering mechanical problems on the opening desert stage.
His problems continued into the second stage, where he was eventually forced to retire.
Joanna Modrzewska, the only female competitor in the field, also failed to finish after crashing on Sunday.
The incident damaged the navigation tower on her Triumph, forcing her to abandon the stage and return to the bivouac.
AL-BASTAKI TAKES QUAD VICTORY
In the quad category, Abdulaziz Ahli made the strongest start by winning the Prologue, but his chances of victory ended during the opening desert stage.
The Emirati suffered a mechanical failure and was forced to retire, handing the advantage to compatriot Khalifa Al-Bastaki.
Al-Bastaki went on to secure the quad victory ahead of Ali Al-Marzouki, with Hani Al-Noumesi finishing third and Ahmed Al-Jaber fourth.
Khalifa Al-Bastaki, 2026 Dubai Baja
McINNES HEADS JUNIOR PODIUM
McInnes also claimed the Junior category honours, finishing ahead of Ethan Lane and Konrad Dąbrowski.
In the Veterans category, Poland’s Slawomir Sypien took victory ahead of compatriot Tomasz Niedzwiedzki, with Jatin Jain completing the podium.
The Dubai International Baja marked another decisive round of the 2026 FIM Bajas World Cup, with McInnes leaving the event as champion following a perfect weekend in the desert.
DUBAI INTERNATIONAL BAJA RESULTS
Motorcycles – Leading Finishers
- Alex McInnes – KTM
- Ethan Lane – +6min 35.6sec
- Toni Mulec – +14min 17.4sec
- Konrad Dąbrowski – Duust KTM
- Romain Dumontier
Junior Category
- Alex McInnes
- Ethan Lane
- Konrad Dąbrowski
Veterans Category
- Slawomir Sypien
- Tomasz Niedzwiedzki
- Jatin Jain
Quads
- Khalifa Al-Bastaki
- Ali Al-Marzouki
- Hani Al-Noumesi
- Ahmed Al-Jaber
