Moto-Stunts International and The Muscat Festival 2008 in Oman

Moto Stunts International's Tony Baily organised the first Freestyle stunt show to The Muscat Festival Oman. Negotiations started in July 07 by the festival organisers, requesting Tony to send a DVD with film footage of MSI's wide choice of stunts and specialist vehicles. The top festival organisers came back to me requiring freestyle jumps rollover jeep, quad and motorcycle trick riding and the freestyle jump over the fire wall as a spectacular finale.

By October contracts were signed plans for ramps and equipment had to be measured for container space, Freestyle take off ramp, 12 motorcycles, four quads, rollover jeep fire equipment, tools and ride clothing. Plans for the freestyle landing ramp were sent and would be erected on the Festival Plaza site in Al Athaiba near Muscat Airport, just one of the many Festival sites, Ourum Natural Park, AL Sahwa Park and A Seeb Beach. Activities, cultural and variety events, held every February since 1998 attracting up to 3 million people from all over world for prodigious 4 week festival period.

Top UK freestyle riders Jamie Squibb, Dan Whitby and newcomer Wayne Jacobs agreed to join Tony on the trip, also stunt riders Jasper Steve and Tony’s son Brandon to form the MSI team.

By the end of Nov all the equipment had be brought to Tony’s base near Brands Hatch in Kent in preparation for the container load which was on the 17th of December, that sailed on the 21st from Felixstowe and arrived in Muscat port on the 12th of January in plenty of time for our preparation.

We flew out to Oman...

The MSI teams tickets were arranged and we all flew out from Gatwick on the 26th of January saying goodbye to that winter weather, arriving in Muscat Airport with a 4 hour time difference from the UK and a sunny warm morning and welcome by the festival organisers at the Airport. We were taken to our hotel accommodation, swimming pool, gym, sauna and settled into our rooms with a late lunch. Then later that day had a look at the site location.

Over the next few days Tony and Steve Jacobs sorted the equipment, Rollover Jeep, Quads and Burnout bikes and along side Dan and Jamie organised the positioning of the Freestyle landing and take off ramps. By February 2nd the landing ramp was built and the team was ready for a practice day prior to our first show day on the 3rd. All went well MSI and the team was ready for the 13 days of 3 shows per night ahead. Travelling from the (Majan Continental Hotel) to the site each day by coach, with other performing acts from all over the world, (see NationalStuntman.com) our first performances were from 7.30 to 11.00, performing in front 8,000 people per night, members of the royal family, ministers, and visitors worldwide in a fantastic cultured crowds, with live bands and stage acts at Plaza Al Athaiba every night it made for a tremendous atmosphere.

The first few evenings were a little cool so the locals said, seemed quite warm when I was going through the fire and the youngest UK Freestyler Wayne Jacobs was gunning over the top. Dan Whitby and Jamie Squibb performed some fantastic professional freestyle wowing the crowds and proving to be the UK's top riders.

Steve Jacobs performing the rollover jeep took a hammering, I didn’t know who or what was more damaged, him or the jeep! Brandon Baily performed the quad tricks and captured all the pictures and film footage.

"Thanks to all our stunt performers the show was the most spectacular motorized show the Muscat Festival has ever seen. MSI hope to return and produce an even bigger show in the future, we would like to thank the festival organisers for inviting MSI Team to this prestigious world event."
Tony Baily MSI

M S I will be planning a 2009 show for the Muscat Festival.