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Ricky Brabec has exited the 2023 Dakar Rally, following a crash on Stage 3.
After taking the Stage 1 victory, Brabec looked like he would challenge for the win this year; although he seemed to have a tough time with Stage 2, Brabec looked to still have the speed that made him the champion in 2020. Unfortunately, a crash in the third day’s racing sent him packing from the rally, on a chopper ride headed for medical attention. The official Dakar Twitter account said “The Honda rider crashed at km 274 of the special and was taken care of by the Dakar medical team. Suffering from neck pain, Ricky Brabec was transported to a hospital for additional examinations.”
Fall and withdrawal for Brabec
The Honda rider crashed at km 274 of the special and was taken care of by the Dakar medical team. Suffering from neck pain, Ricky Brabec was transported to a hospital for additional examinations. #Dakar2023 pic.twitter.com/fefmK8R94Y
— DAKAR RALLY (@dakar) January 3, 2023
On Instagram, Brabec’s girlfriend posted an update saying stormy weather had grounded the medevac helicopter ride, and Brabec then had to be transported by ground ambulance. After arriving at hospital, it sounds as if Brabec has the feeling in his extremities that he should, and is talking, so while a neck injury is scary stuff, it might not be as bad as it looked initially.
Who’s left from the US?
With Andrew Short now racing a Can-Am side-by-side and Brabec crashing out, which American riders still pose a threat for a win or podium in Dakar’s moto category?
The obvious answer is Mason Klein, who at only 21 years old, and in his second Dakar, is tearing the place up while riding as a privateer for Bas World KTM Racing. And then there’s Skyler Howes, on the Husqvarna factory squad. Both those guys are the real deal, and they’ll be top-10s unless disaster strikes, like it did with Brabec.
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