Desert win

Dubai: Qatar's Nasser Al Attiyah became the first Arab driver for 15 years to win the UAE Desert Challenge while French rider Cyril Despres scored his fifth bikes title triumph in the spectacular event.

Having dominated the 2,197-km six-day rally from start to finish in his prototype BMW X3, Al Attiyah also clinched the drivers' title in the FIA World Cup for Cross Country Rallies.

He reached the finish in Dubai with a 4hr 27min winning margin.

Al Attiyah, who was partnered by Swedish co-driver Tina Thorner, became the first Arab driver to taste victory in the event since fellow Qatari Saeed Al Hajri in 1993.

A delighted Al Attiyahsaid: "Fantastic, I'm really happy. This week has gone very well. We have tried various set-ups with the car which have worked well, and the tyres we selected have been very good.

"It was a shame the other works teams decided to go to Morrocco for testing, it would have been exciting and closer competition with them here.

"Taking part in the Desert Challenge has for us been the testing ground for the car."

The UAE's Yahya Alhelei took second place in a standard production class Nissan Patrol.

Al Helei has competed in every Desert Challenge since it was launched in 1991 by Mohammad Bin Sulayem, President of the Automobile and Touring Club of the UAE.

While he was pleased with second place in a standard Nissan Patrol, he said he could go one better, if he could attract sufficient sponsorship.

"I'm really, really happy to finish in this position," he said.

"It's been a hard rally, one which you need experience to cover the stages. I hope to win next year, and I'm looking for a sponsor who will care and support local drivers.

"There are a lot of companies that come here and make a lot of money, and it would be nice for them to support this sport."

Finishing third in the event was Russian driver Vladimir Chagin in one of the Kamaz trucks.

Mechanical problems

Given a clear path to victory when his KTM team-mate Marc Coma plunged from contention 24 hours earlier with clutch failure, Despres won the open bikes title by 14mins from Chilean rider Francisco Lopez.

Claiming his fifth Desert Challenge triumph in eight years, Despres said: "It's really amazing. I am really, really happy.

"Today was very fast and I didn't push myself too hard because I didn't want any problems. This is definitely the best rally, especially with all the support and the reassurance of the rescue teams."

UAE-based British rider James West finished third, ahead of Frenchman Alain Duclos, Spain's Jordi Viladoms and Slovenian Miran Stanovnik.

Leading the 450cc class overnight, UAE-based Irish rider Dave McBride saw his titles hopes shattered by a blown engine on the final day, and victory went to South African rider Sean Gaugain.

He won by more than 44 minutes from Australian Alan Roberts, with Portugal's Helder Rodrigues taking third place ahead of another Aussie rider, Simon Pavey.

The quads title went to Frenchman Lionel Laine, who had a cushion of more than 12 minutes from the UAE's Mohammad Al Shamsi, with French rider Eric Vergnes in third.