Words by: Eulogy van Dyk
Photos by: Michael Anderson
Gone are the days of people saying, “There’s nothing to do in Qatar.” If your body’s own engine is not keen to take you out for a spin, why not hop on a motorised engine and join a group for a motocross session in the desert. But beware, although powered by fuel it is still a demanding sport both physically and mentally.
The MXGP World Championship returned to Qatar for the third consecutive year this 2015 and kicked off with the first race of the championship at the Losail International Circuit. A few more similar international events took place in the country, which makes it a good indication that Qatar is a favourable location to participate in a sport like this. With rumours that Formula One might be headed to Qatar in the near future, it is clear that motorsport is becoming increasingly popular in our small, Middle Eastern peninsula.
The local community (expats and Qataris alike), however, is still a rather small group of people participating in the sport, but according to some of the riders, the group is growing each year and showed a significant increase the past two years. Similarly, events that cater to motocross enthusiasts have been increasing steadily every year.
Currently, there are no motocross clubs in Qatar, but an active Facebook community, the Qatar Duners, exists where you can connect with like-minded people. It consists of a mixed group, from all walks of life and is open for all to join. Normally they go out for rides on Friday morning and Saturday, which is becoming increasingly popular.
The riders focus on the following types of riding; Motocross, Endurocross (longer distances with less jumps) and Free riding (just going out for a ride in the desert, weekend warrior style).
There are two tracks “built” in the desert by the Qatar Duners and located close to the Inland Sea in the south of the country. One track is less technical and the other with more demanding, adrenaline pumping jumps. This serves as the main training area for the locals currently. It is possible to go on a cross-country ride with no formal routes, although it is advised to take care before embarking on an individual outing. In a sport where open space and alluring area is a must, the desert is the perfect place to be!
The season runs mainly from October to April where pleasant weather equals pleasant riding conditions. In the hot summer months you will only find a few daredevils chasing out at 4:00 a.m. in the morning to get their daily dose of adrenaline pumping through their veins.
Tips for the local riders: never ride alone and be aware that some sand dunes do change shape during the course of a season! At the moment there are limited shops that cater for motocross specifically, so most people order spare parts and accessories online. There is however Yamaha, Kawasaki, Honda and KTM bike dealerships in Qatar.
The motocross community in Qatar is warm and welcoming. There is a special camaraderie between them where great friendships are built. And the best of all, families can join for a day out in the desert whilst the boys (or girls) go out to play in the dunes.
So if you are looking to do or try something else, motocross is a fantastic way to get out of the house and do something different in Qatar, instead of falling into the trap of getting the hump that there is “nothing to do”.
To get in touch with the motocross community contact Qatar Duners at qatar-duners@googlegroups.com or visit their Facebook page.
