Krotov and Dabrowski open up leads after stage one of the Qatar International Baja

Lusail, Qatar: Denis Krotov and the rampant Polish rider Konrad Dabrowski moved into the outright lead in the car and motorcycle categories after the...

Lusail, Qatar: Denis Krotov and the rampant Polish rider Konrad Dabrowski moved into the outright lead in the car and motorcycle categories after the opening 220.31km stage of the Qatar International Baja through the northern and extreme western deserts of the country on Friday.

Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah led the Challenger category after day one in Qatar.

A time penalty cost Martin Prokop and navigator Viktor Chytka the fastest time on Thursday’s Prologue but the Czech duo took full advantage of their starting position to win the car stage in the latest version of the Ford Raptor they will use at the Dakar Rally in January.

But lightning struck twice for the former WRC star and he incurred a further 2min 21sec in penalties for a jump start and an additional one minute for failing to stop in a neutralisation. He duly lost the outright lead to the X-raid Mini JCW Team duo of Krotov and his navigator Konstantin Zhiltsov. Last year’s winners in Qatar held a virtual advantage through the early kilometres and now lead overnight by 2min 42.4sec.

Martin Prokop guided his Ford Raptor to second in the car category.