Stunning landscapes of Wadi Rum hosted Jordan Baja riders for three days at the 2026 FIM Bajas World Cup round two where young British rider Alex McInnes took victory by over six minutes.

Crossing the start podium at the Ayla marina in Aqaba, FIM Bajas round one winner, Alex McInnes (KTM) was the only Junior rider on the grid and he comfortably won the 11.78km prologue from Marcin Talaga (GasGas) and Sultan Al-Balooshi (Kove).

The stage one on Friday saw riders cover 225.71km in Wadi Rum, starting and finishing in Humaymeh, an ancient trading post in southern Jordan, founded by the Nabataean king Aretas III in the first century BC.

Prologue winner McInnes chose to start in 10th position. It was a wise decision that allowed him to take the lead from the very first checkpoint. “It was the most incredible rally I’ve ever raced in my career,” he said at the finish.

Despite his youth, McInnes demonstrated race management skills by riding cautiously and conceded the stage victory to Al-Mogheera but took the overall. 

“At the beginning, there were some very technical, enduro-type sections, and I had a small fall in the rocks. Luckily, I came out unscathed. I caught up with (Mohammed) Al-Balooshi, and we rode together for 100 km until the end, taking turns at the front.”

“It’s cool to win again,” commented McInnes at the finish after his second victory of the season. “I led all day, but at the start of the special stage, I made a stupid mistake that cost me the stage win. Abdulhalim caught me and stayed with me all day. The course was really beautiful, despite the very rocky last 20 kilometers. I won in Ha’il, I win here, and I’m off to Portugal in April to continue the FIM Baja World Cup.”

Starting second, former winner Mohammed Al Balooshi, got lost after 11km but then enjoyed riding with McInnes and finished fourth.“I had some problems with the navigation instrument,” commented the defending champion, “but my hand injury didn’t bother me anymore after I put a sponge in my glove...” Kuwaiti Abdullah Al-Shatti secured third behind Abdulhalim Al-Mogheera.

Abdullah Al-Shatti finished third, despite a 2min 10sec penalty, ahead of five-time winner Mohammed Al-Balooshi, who also received a two-minute penalty for speeding.

Joanna Modrzewska finished in 12th position and again scored maximum points in the Women’s category. Modrzewska, the only woman in the field, finished 11th on her Triumph: “I’m happy because I rode faster and the bike is easy to handle and comfortable.”

Al-Balooshi was the top performer in the Veteran category, ahead of Rafic Eid and Joanna Modrzewska.

2026 FIM Bajas World Cup Rnd 2 Jordan, results:

Photo Credit: Edo Photo