Old Bastakia

Photo provided by Barry Hope of Gulf Sport Racing LLC
Dubai Dirt Donks started in 1978. Dubai's first Off Road Motorcycle Club adopted the name Dirt Donks of a well known motorcycle magazine. Barry Hope and Graeme MacFarlane arrived in Dubai in 1977. They soon realised Dubai was ideal for indulging their shared interest in off road motorcycling. Soon others with the same interest joined them and Dubai Dirt Donks Off Road Motorcycle Club was born.
RM400 Suzuki Dirt Bikes were imported by Yousuf Habib Al Yousuf. These Suzuki Motorbikes became the Club's mainstay motorbike.
A "Supercross" Track was built in the old Al Nasr Football Club Stadium next to Rashid Hospital with the help of Sheikh Mana bin Khalifa Al Maktoum. Material for building the track was provided from materials used to build the new Al Nasr Football Stadium. Suzuki Motorbikes sent Japan's leading Motocross Rider Katsutoshi Iwao San to help the new Club. Katsutoshi Iwao was one of the first international sportsmen to visit Dubai. His inaugural ride around the new course was not all it should have been. Iwao San fell off his bike as he negotiated the Club's new "Double Jump"!

Photo by Barry Hope of Gulf Sport Racing LLC
Dubai Dirt Donks popularity spread both within and outside UAE. Membership was international. Clubs were established in Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Qatar and Oman leading to interclub competitions and championships. The Club was invited to complete in India and achieved success at the Indian Motor Cross Grand Prix held at Poona in 1985.
Dubai Dirt Donks established training programmes for Novices and Youngsters so Membership grew. Eventually Dubai Dirt Donks was restructured into Dubai Motorcross Club which still exists today in modern Dubai.