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Oman’s muddiest clash with Dubai Motocross Club at Muscat Festival 2008

PMuscat saw its most spectacular off-road motorcycling event in more than five years take place this February: motocross racing in Qurm. Organised jointly between the Oman Automobile Club (OAC) and the Dubai Motocross Club (DMX), the event hosted around 80 bikers (60 from Dubai) and was a big success.

Oman Dirty Bikers entered 12 members of their own. Although the Dirty Biker club in itself has over 40 members now, none of the riders actually compete regularly in any MX events because there simply isn’t anything organised officially in Oman. The Dirty Bikers tend to spend more time exploring the country by dirt bike, or racing each other across sand dunes in the nether regions of Oman.Registration, scrutineering and free practice took place on Thursday before the first races. By late afternoon the racers were off. The track, built in the wadi between the Qurm shopping centres and CCC, was full of steep jumps, tight bends, hard-packed gravel and sand, designed to test every rider to the edge of their ability. Tankers sprayed water to keep the dust down but to also to make it an exciting, wet, slippery track.

Two Dirty Bikers, Randall Adamson and Ian Greasby, joined in with the Dubai Clubman class. As 23 bikes blasted down to the first corner at full pelt, Randall emerged from the mêlée in fifth position. Mud, bikes, elbows and wheels were everywhere. The battle would last 15 minutes, with the bikes spending as much time in the air jumping as they did, speeding down the straights. By the end of this race Randall came in with an unbelievable fourth place, while Ian, on his Enduro bike (as opposed to a specialised MX bike), managed eighth.

By the end of the weekend, with Randall finishing fourth again but then pulling out due to injury, Ian had managed a fifth and a sixth place, and was awarded sixth overall in Dubai Clubman class.

Eleven Dirty Bikers lined up for the Oman class. With nearly every biker never having even been on an MX track before there were some nervous faces. But when the flag went down the boys tore off, and it was a fight to the end. The riders jumped their bikes, slid them around corners, bashed hand guards with each other and even spent some time picking up the bikes after the inevitable offs. Muscat Festival played loud music and the crowds gathered and cheered. The atmosphere was awesome.

For most of the Dirty Bikers this was one of the best days’ riding in years. The excitement, thrill, smell and experience of getting covered in mud is what dirt biking is all about.

It is hoped that the MX circuit can stay, or a suitable location can be found for another track. If ridden properly in a controlled and serious way motorcycling can be proven to be a safe and enjoyable sport for everyone. Presently, there is nowhere in Oman you can ride motocross in a controlled environment so this was a real treat.

If you are interested in dirt bike riding please contact the Dirty Bikers who can be found at the Bausher sand dunes most weekends or practising at the Qurm track. Call Ian Greasby on 99312581 to be welcomed into the Oman Dirty Biker club.