Abdulaziz Ahli continued to solidify himself as the most effective FIM rider on 4 wheels on the Abu Dhabi Desert Problem when he dominated the 2023 version to win for an unprecedented third yr in a row.
Ahli entered as the plain favorite together with his 2021 and 2022 ADDC victories—the one Quad rider with consecutive wins—and being the twice reigning Dubai Endurocross champion. He would rating essentially the most stage wins throughout all lessons by taking 5 of the six legs together with the Prologue.
The lone leg he did not win was Stage #2 when Laisvydas Kancius beat him by simply 1:55. Nevertheless, Kancius and the opposite 4 riders within the class had already fallen behind after Ahli beat runner-up Rodolfo Guillioli by 24:24 after the primary stage they usually have been unable to recuperate as Ahli rode off to extra stage victories. Kancius had misplaced momentum in Stage #1 after receiving a penalty and operating out of gas.
Nonetheless, Kancius left Abu Dhabi because the World Rally-Raid Championship Quad factors chief. Ahli, who didn’t run the season-opening Dakar Rally like Kancius, sits fourth.
“Generally, I might consider the competitors positively: I received one velocity part, there was a reasonably shut combat on the observe with Abdulaziz Ahli, who received the general, when there have been no disturbances, the tempo was good, the four-wheeler was affected person and dependable,” wrote Kancius on social media.
“One of many objectives on this competitors was to earn as many factors as doable and to maneuver up from third place within the general standings. I succeeded – I at the moment have 44 factors in my account and I’ve risen to the primary place within the general standings of the World Championship!”
CFMOTO team-mates Adomas Gančierius and Antanas Kanopkinas largely rode collectively. The technique bore blended outcomes that ranged from highs like ending third and fourth in every of the ultimate three legs to operating out of fuel whereas on the identical dune in Stage #1. By the top, Gančierius was capable of safe a podium.
“The entire rally, as its identify suggests, is an actual desert problem,” mentioned Kanopkinas, who completed fifth. “There have been tough moments, however general the whole lot is absolutely superb. I might be completely happy to trip it once more.
“All days we rode on greater or smaller dunes and it allowed us to find the robust and weak factors of our approach. After protecting so many kilometres, we found what enhancements we have to make to the quads. We’ll now be much more ready for (the) Dakar Rally.”
Guillioli’s ADDC was overshadowed by a three-hour penalty for making repairs in an unapproved location below marathon situations, which requires opponents to work on their automobiles in a particular “Work Park” space with out exterior help, in Stage #3. His quad broke down resulting from a spark plug concern later within the stage to additional knock him down and he settled for fourth.
Paweł Otwinowski suffered a mechanical failure that prevented him from beginning Stage #2, however was capable of hold going afterwards and reached the end.
Whereas considerably aided by the actual fact that there have been solely six riders, the Quads have been the one class on the ADDC wherein each entry accomplished the race.
