Kuwaiti Motocross Champion, Mohammed Jaffar Announces Participation In Dakar Rally

Motocross and Red Bull Athlete Mohammed Jaffar announced his in the upcoming Dakar Rally which will take place for the second consecutive year in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Mohammed Jaffar has seen considerable success in motocross rallies across the region and is a fan-favorite in his home country of Kuwait. 

Jaffar joins in the footsteps of Red Bull teammates who’ve competed in the Dakar Rally, like fellow GCC driver Nasser Al-Attiyah (QAT), and Toby Price (AUS), who are 3-time and 2-time winners of the Dakar Rally, respectively.  

The 43rd edition of the historic event begins January 3, in the coastal city of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. This marks the third consecutive year in which the entire race takes place within the borders of a single country. This is the second year in Saudi Arabia since its move from South America, where it had been held for a decade. 

2021 sees Kuwaiti motocross racer Jaffar make his Dakar Rally debut in the motorbike category. “This will be the first time I will get to participate in the Dakar Rally,” Mohammed Jaffar said. “It’s a huge challenge, indeed.” 

The race is famous for its difficult terrain, long drive times, and having to read the map as you go. Unlike closed-circuit races, there’s no footage and no possibility of team practice on the track beforehand. 

The rally is seen as a supreme test of driver, car, and crew. Even teams with excellent Dakar experience will find their battles to overcome. 

“This race is tough on anyone, no matter your racing background.” Jaffar said. 

This year brings with it several new challenges, as well what the race organizers expect to be a boon for the participants. 

Of interest to Mohammed Jaffar and his team are the rule changes pertaining to the motorbike category. The first is a time penalty for piston changes and a complete ban on any mechanical work on motorbikes at the refueling stations. 

The race organizers hope that this will mean a more careful rally run, as keeping the engine healthy will become a top priority. This will surely change the strategies teams will implement. 

This year will see the addition of the digital road book, which, according to organizers, will be more accurate and helpful in certain areas than the standard print version. The print edition will still be made available to those who prefer it. 

The road book will be distributed to teams 10 minutes before the start of the race. 

The route will take them from the starting point of Jeddah through several major areas of the country, with a rest day planned in Ha’il. This will give the teams time to regroup before the final stretch. 

The 2021 Dakar rally will end on January 15, where it started, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. 

Mohammed Jaffar will represent Kuwait with the Red Bull KTM Team starting January 3, at the Dakar Rally. 

 

SOURCE : TIMES KUWAIT

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