It was a dramatic final day at the sixth Jordan Baja with race leader Yazeed Al-Rajhi suffering a horror accident and crashing out of the race, handing victory to Overdrive Racing's Juan Cruz Yacopini.
UAE's Mohammed Al-Balooshi claimed his fifth Jordan crown on the bikes on what was a tremendous weekend of FIA and FIM World Cup action in the majestic Wadi Rum.
UAE's Mohammed Al-Balooshi claimed his fifth Jordan crown on the bikes on what was a tremendous weekend of FIA and FIM World Cup action in the majestic Wadi Rum.
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00:00Overdrive Racing's Juan Cruz-Yacopini and co-driver Danny Olivares earned a narrow debut victory at the 6th Jordan Baja to take the lead in the 2025 FIA World Baja Cup.
00:19On a dramatic second day of racing in the majestic Wadi Rum, the Argentinian's victory was marred by an accident to overnight leader Yazid Al-Rajji, who was airlifted to hospital with co-driver Timo Gottschok suffering fractures in their backs.
00:39Both are expected to make recoveries but face a lengthy time on the sidelines.
00:44Yacopini's Toyota finished just 11 seconds ahead of Qatar's Abdulaziz Al-Khawari in a QMMF Team Taurus T3 Max, after nearly 500km of racing over two days in southern Jordan.
01:02I'm really, really happy to finish this race. It was a really tough one. I enjoy a lot Jordan. It's my first time and for sure I will come again.
01:10I win the rally. We win the overall. So really happy yesterday. It was a really tough day and we get a nice pace on the stage.
01:20Danny makes it really good. Today we have a little bit more mistakes. The roadblock was good but quite hard.
01:27So Danny has to invent and see a lot of tracks and notes. There were a lot of notes without caps so we have to be really, really focused on not getting confused.
01:39But Danny makes a really good job. Me as a driver also makes a good job and my mechanics and engineers also make a brilliant job.
01:48So the Hilux was perfect all the days. So really happy, really proud of my team and really proud of myself that I win my first World Cup event.
01:57Al Kuwari with Spanish co-driver Oriol Mina kept his composure to take second overall and first in the challenger category after teammate Khalifa Saleh Alatia suffered two punctures to settle for third.
02:12Al Kuwari also claimed maximum points in the Middle East Baha Cup.
02:17This is maybe my favorite country in rallying. So I think we won the T3 challenger and in total we are on the podium.
02:26I don't know if we have to see the total times. Third, second, first, I don't know. But very happy, very good rally for us.
02:33Today was very, very difficult and tricky for navigation. We lost a lot of races.
02:37But what these guys are doing, the co-drivers are amazing, you know, to be honest, if I get paid one million euro, I will never be a co-driver.
02:45I just try to drive because a co-driver is not easy, not easy. Well done for Oriol.
02:54Saudi's Hamza Bahashab moved through the field on Saturday to fifth overall to clinch the SSV category with navigator Martin Passat.
03:02It was very tough in terms of driving and in terms of navigation. I would like to thank my co-driver for doing an amazing job.
03:09We had a lot of fun, to be honest, and tricky navigation and sideways and flying and everything happened today.
03:16But thank God, no punctures, very clean race. And we're back here.
03:21I would like to thank Jordan for having this amazing rally here and having us here.
03:26It's such a nice atmosphere. The vibes here are amazing. The landscape is beautiful.
03:31The roads are amazing. So it's all very good.
03:36There was no such drama in the FIM World Cup for bikes, with Mohamed Aboulouchi cruising to his fifth
03:42Jordan crown to increase his lead at the top of the standings after three rounds.
03:47The Emirati came through the 190km stage unscathed to finish two minutes and 24 seconds clear of
03:55Lebanon's Rafik Haid in second, with Germany's Philip Holloman in third. Saudi Arabia's Hani al-Namasi
04:02claimed the quad bike points as well.
04:07This task was difficult and I'm really happy to do it. I believe my fifth international Jordanian bar.
04:16I really worked hard for this and I'm still blessed at this age. Still, I'm delivering. I'm quite happy.
04:21I think it's a lot more in me. I feel like more good to come. I'm still improving. I'm still learning.
04:30Amazing, amazing weekend. You know, going back home with the trophy. Yes, job well done.
04:40The Jordanian duo of Hashem Kalbune and Mohed Aja secured victory in the Jordan National Baha in a black
04:48Irish while the second Wadi Al-Khamaa rally also ended successfully with another strong field taking
04:55part. The championships move on to Europe now with the next round of the FIA World Baha Cup taking
05:02place in Greece and the FIM World Cup heading to Spain. And with widespread praise ringing in the ears
05:09of the Jordanian organizers, we can expect another warm welcome for the motorsporting world once again
05:17in 2026.