Dakar Rally champion Marc Coma confirmed for Emirates Desert Championship final round

The final round of the Emirates Desert Championship next weekend has gone up a notch in prestige with the unexpected participation of reigning five-time Dakar Rally champion Marc Coma.

The six-time FIM world champion rider has been drafted in by KTM-UAE to contest the climax of the country’s national Baja series on March 6. The one-day event also gives the Spaniard a strong preparation for next month’s Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, in which he is chasing an eighth bikes victory.

Coma will race in the emirate next Friday alongside KTM factory stablemate Sam Sunderland as well as local KTM-UAE riders Mohammed Al Balooshi and Jake Shipton. The latter will make his debut in the MXGP world championship in Qatar this weekend.

Mohammed ben Sulayem, the president of the Automobile and Touring Club of the UAE, hopes Coma’s participation will be the first of several international competitors looking to get involved with the developing series.

- Defending champion Marc Coma clinches fifth Dakar Rally title

- 2015 Dakar Rally revs up in Argentina – in pictures

“We’re delighted to welcome Marc to the Desert Championship,” Ben Sulayem said. “His appearance emphasises the growing status of the series and we expect many more top competitors to follow.”

In only its second year, the Emirates Desert Championship has produced closely contested battles with Al Balooshi, Shipton, Kuwaiti Mohammed Jaffar and Mark Grams of Germany all entering the final round capable of winning the bikes crown.

In the cars class, Emirati pair Ahmed Al Fahim and Ahmad Al Maqoodi continue their friendly rivalry at the top of the standings.

“Our local competitors will enjoy sharing the stage with one of the most successful riders in the history of international cross-country rallying,” Ben Sulayem said.

“I have known Marc for many years and I’m sure he will be impressed with the championship that we have built in just two short seasons, especially as it provides great preparation for the Desert Challenge.”

This year’s Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge begins on March 26 and marks the opening round of the new FIM Cross-Country Rallies world championship. It is also the 25th anniversary of the UAE’s premier off-road endurance event.

Coma has won the bikes crown in five of his seven appearances in the Dakar Rally since winning on his debut in 2006, while KTM-UAE are on the cusp of a sweep in the Desert Championship with their riders having won all five rounds.

Michael Winter, the team’s general manager, said he expects his local riders to surprise a few people.

“We have been working with the ATCUAE for the last few months to finalise the plan to bring Marc over,” he said.

“We are really excited to see how he matches up alongside our leading local riders, as the gap may be smaller than people think.”