(MENAFN- Gulf Times) A dramatic Dakar Rally debut saw Mohamed Abu Issa steer his quad towards a top five finish and a Rookies Cup win. The Qatari rider is now focused on pushing for even more honours when the next edition of the race gets going in Buenos Aires in a few week's time.
It may have only been a year since Abu Issa arrived in South America to compete in his first ever Dakar, but a lot has changed in that time. Before his Dakar debut there was little expectation surrounding the 23-year-old student, who stated his pre-race ambitions as hoping to reach the finish line. After two weeks and 13 gruelling stages, Abu Issa not only fulfilled his desire to complete the race but surprised everyone by finishing fourth overall to become the best placed debutant.
Now Abu Issa's talent is no secret in the bivouac of the Dakar and expectations for his upcoming performance has risen significantly. Following the withdrawal of the Patronelli brothers (four-time winners between 2010-2013) Abu Issa now finds himself within a select group of riders with a realistic shot at the quad title in 2015.
Emulating his countryman Nasser al-Attiyah, by winning the Dakar remains Abu Issa's ultimate ambition and earlier this year the two shared top spot of the podium at the Sealine Cross Country Rally. The duo delighted race fans in their native Qatar with victory on home turf as belief surged through the crowd that the pair can repeat their winning performances at the upcoming Dakar.
Abu Issa said: "My first Dakar was a lot harder than I imagined it would be. A month before the race I broke my arm so I rode the rally with titanium plate in there. Now I know what to expect when I arrive at the race and this will help a lot. I feel my preparation is much better this time and my ambition is to win. The minimum I'm aiming for is a podium finish because I want to show that there are others in Qatar, not just Nasser (al-Attiyah), who can compete at this level. It will not be an easy race but I'm ready to do my best."
Nasser will have to get the most out of his MINI ALL4 Racing if he is to collect another car race title and the task ahead of Abu Issa in the quad category is also far from simple. There are a total of four marathon stages lying in wait for the quads at this next edition of the Dakar, meaning that riders must do all repairs themselves before starting the next day's racing. With 9,000km of perilous terrain between himself and glory it's clear that Abu Issa will need to be in top physical and mental condition for the entire two weeks if he is to take home the big prize.
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