Alex McInnes, the current FIM Bajas World Cup points leader, will make his return to the World Rally-Raid Championship at this weekend’s Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge. He plans to compete solo as a Malle Moto rider after what he called a “last minute change of plans”.

“Going to be a long week in the desert, one box full of tools, one tent and a whole lot of KMs,” wrote McInnes on Thursday.

McInnes finished sixth in Rally2 at the 2023 ADDC, his last time competing in the event. He was supposed to return for 2024 but was sidelined by a broken collarbone.

The Emirati-based Briton is coming off his maiden cross-country rally victory at the Bajas World Cup-opening Saudi Baja. After being edged out by reigning champion Mohammed Al-Balooshi in the Prologue by four seconds, McInnes swept the two Selective Sections to win by over 16 minutes.

He finished runner-up in the 2024 World Cup’s Junior Trophy and tenth among all riders.

With McInnes’ entry, there are now 14 Malle Moto riders at the 2025 ADDC. Malle Moto is a subcategory of Rally2 in which riders cannot get assistance from teams, though they can rely on other competitors for help.

Featured image credit: Irina Petrichei