Reigning World Rally-Raid Champion Sam Sunderland‘s 2023 couldn’t have gotten off to a worse begin. After breaking his shoulder within the first stage of the Dakar Rally in January, he suffered a damaged ankle on Friday throughout the ultimate shakedown for this weekend’s Abu Dhabi Desert Problem, which is able to drive him to overlook the race.
“Generally it’s arduous in life to not ask your self why, I’ve turned over each rock since my dakar crash to be again to full health and able to combat with the very best guys on the earth on this loopy sport that brings out the very best of me,” started a social media put up by Sunderland. “I at all times seek for accountability when I’ve an accident and maintain it with me as a token reminder of my errors however this one may be very bitter, the return on funding the previous few months has been horrible.
“At present on our final coaching experience earlier than the race I came visiting an increase and right into a pocket, had a big effect and broke my ankle I gained’t make the beginning of my favorite race of the yr and might be again on the restoration prepare to be prepared for the subsequent combat. It’s a large disappointment however I additionally be mindful simply how fortunate I’m to be on this place and I need to thank the crew and all of my supporters that experience alongside for the the ups and downs. We might be again quickly!”
2023 was speculated to be a title defence for Sunderland, who gained the inaugural RallyGP World Rally-Raid Championship in 2022 that included his second victories every within the Dakar Rally and Abu Dhabi Desert Problem. Nevertheless, the yr started on a bitter notice when he crashed fifty-two kilometres into the 2023 Dakar opener, struggling a damaged shoulder and concussion.
Sunderland isn’t the one RallyGP rider out for Abu Dhabi as Dakar champion and factors chief Kevin Benavides broke his femur whereas working towards on Wednesday. His Pink Bull GasGas Manufacturing unit Racing team-mate Daniel Sanders can be unavailable as he continues to get better from his elbow harm sustained within the opener.
The sudden growth means there might be simply eleven RallyGP entries for Abu Dhabi.
