Balooshi sets off for Dakar

Emirati Mohammad Balooshi and Red Bull athlete was crowned last Friday as the Arab Motocross Champion for the third year in a row. After an aggressive competition in Kuwait Desert, Mohammad set new standards by being the first Motocross rider to keep the title for three times.The UAE said its word in the Final Round of the Arab Motocross Championship. Emirati Ali Qubaisi joined Balooshi at the Podium by winning the 2nd place, for the individual classification, leaving the 3rd place for Alim from Algeria.As for the team results, UAE team won the first position, Algerian came 2nd and the third position went to Kuwaiti team.Red Bull’s Motocross Champion Mohammad Balooshi is off to Argentina on Monday for Rally Dakar with an extensive program of training specifically conceived for the legendary race, as the Emirati rider adds yet another milestone to his long record of achievements. Mohammad Balooshi launched his career by winning the title of “UAE’s best motorcycle rider in 2003”, yet he heralds the tenth year of his outstanding achievements with one of the most distinguished motoring events in the world: Rally Dakar in the beginning of 2012 in Latin America across Argentina, Chile and Peru. Emirati Balooshi, 32, is the father of three children. He seriously launched himself in motor sports races in the year 2000, when he participated in the local motorbike competition and finished seventh in the overall standings.Balooshi is undergoing intensive preparations to participate in the mother of all races “Rally Dakar” for the first time in the sports history of the UAE. The Red Bull champion will participate with the “KTM Rally Factory Team” representing his country and the rest of the Arab region in the colossal annual events organised for several decades now. This achievement places Balooshi along some of the greatest world athletes in this sport who will also be participating in the Dakar 2012 in the motorbikes category. Balooshi says: “Although I have participated in several races this year, I have to train myself in different techniques for Rally Dakar. These specific techniques require in addition to speed, utmost concentration and outstanding navigation skills because the race stretches over thousands of kilometres”.The Emirati champion who is planning on providing an exceptional performance during the race, assures that he will gain a lot by participating in such a world-scale event.