STAPO RACES ON THE DESERTED WAR-TORN FAILAKA ISLAND

MXA’s Dennis Stapleton (16) has crossed the globe many times racing in foreign countries and he’s no stranger to racing on the Arabian Peninsula, but this particular trip to Kuwait was loaded with surprises. He flew to Kuwait to race the Red Bull Failaka Island Grand Prix cross-country race. The 100 entrants started from the deck of a landing craft-style ferry and raced through bombed out buildings, down empty paved highways and through the desert landscape.

Dennis Stapleton (right) won the 250 class, while Ross Rutherford (center ) won the 450 class. They are joined on the overall combined podium by Maaz Al Ansari (left). Photo: Naim Chidiac

There were timed qualifiers for what was essentially gate pick—with the fast qualifiers starting in the front row on the landing craft’s deck and the slowest riders in the back of the boat. Dennis qualified first in the 250 class (on a GasGas MC125 two-stroke), while British rider Ross Rutherford was the fastest in the 450 class. There was even an Adventure bike class. Dennis and Ross would go on to win their respective classes and take the lion share of the purse money.

Dennis Stapleton (16) grabbed the lead straight off of the landing ramp with Ross Rutherford by his side. Photo: Taibah Faisal alkouh