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Rafic Eid continues his meteoric rise in the world of cross-country rallying. After an impressive Dakar 2025, he secured a fifth-place finish overall at the Hail Rally and a podium in the veterans’ category. A thunderous start to the season that establishes him as a serious contender for the 2025 Baja world title.
The Lebanese Rafic Eid keeps accelerating on the cross-country rally scene. On the unforgiving tracks of the Hail International Rally, the first round of the Baja World Championship, he clinched a fifth-place finish overall in a high-caliber field of 199 vehicles, including 39 motorcycles hungry for sand and speed.
A Knife-Edge Battle Among the Veterans
In the veterans’ category, the battle sparked fireworks. Eid, riding his Gas Gas 450 Rally Replica, gave it his all to seize first place. But opposite him, Mohammed Al Balooshi did not flinch. The Emirati, perched on his Husqvarna FE 450, elbowed his way to a narrow victory. Eid finished second, a notch above the rest of the competition, and, most importantly, fully in the race for the world title.
From Dakar to the Chase for the Crown
He snatched this podium barely two weeks after his feat at Dakar 2025, where he was the best Middle Eastern rider. A commanding performance that directly secured his spot for Dakar 2026 and sent a clear message: he is here to make history.
An XXL Calendar for a Grand-Scale Ambition
No time to breathe. The 2025 Baja season promises to be a marathon, and Eid is fully determined to see his dream through to the end. After Hail, seven more rounds await him on an increasingly challenging terrain:
- Portugal (March 21-23)
- Jordan (April 10-12)
- Spain (May 1-3)
- Spain (July 25-27)
- Hungary (August 15-17)
- Qatar (November 6-8)
- United Arab Emirates (November 20-23)
Eight rounds, thousands of kilometers to conquer, and one single goal: finally seizing the veterans’ world crown. After finishing as vice-champion last year, Eid is back at full throttle. With his current form, his time may have finally come.
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