Manufacturing facility KTM rider has vowed to finish the 2026 Dakar Rally except “somebody drags me out” after nursing a damaged collarbone throughout Stage 10.
The reigning champion arrived within the second a part of the marathon stage in Bisha main the general standings, holding a snug 6m24s buffer over Honda rival .
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Nevertheless, catastrophe struck round one-third of the best way by the 368km particular when Sanders crashed within the dunes, injuring his left shoulder.
Regardless of the ache, the Australian remounted his KTM with help from Brabec and dragged the bike to the end in 4h33m33s – a outstanding effort on a stage dominated by gentle sand and round 100km of dunes.
“It appears to be like like a snapped collarbone, for certain,” he informed reporters together with Motorsport.com. “On the refuel, we checked it, but it surely occurred at 140km.
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“I went over a dune and it was fairly scary. I almost landed on Tosha [Schareina] and all of us missed it. However I received up and knew the collarbone was damaged and likewise the sternum [bone]. I’ve damaged this as properly, so there isn’t any energy.”
The crash has successfully ended Sanders’ hope of defending his Dakar title, with the 31-year-old conceding 27 minutes over the course of the stage – a large margin in an ultra-competitive bikes class.
He has slipped to fourth within the general standings, 17 minutes behind new chief Brabec.
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Sanders initially stated he would seek the advice of together with his crew earlier than deciding whether or not to proceed, however shortly made it clear that he needs to complete the rally.
“It wasn’t good within the dunes in any respect,” he stated. “However sadly, we have let the rally go now. We’ll return to the crew and re-evaluate the accidents and the state of affairs and see if it is secure to proceed.
“I needed to proceed and I would not have completed at present if I did not need to proceed.
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“If I’ve simply executed 150km within the sand dunes, it should not be too dangerous. It is all rocks now, so I can simply arise and cruise alongside.
“I feel if it was sand dunes, it might be robust, however now we’re type of executed with the dunes, it is on the gravel roads, it is a bit of bit simpler. However we’ll see.”
He added: “We do not stop. Mum and Dad did not increase ‘no quitter’, so I am not pulling out now till another person tells me to tug out or they drag me out of the race, so I am not stopping.”
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Sanders had led nearly all of the rally till Stage 10, however his accident means KTM’s victory hopes now relaxation with . The Argentine trails new general chief Brabec by 56 seconds with 4 levels nonetheless remaining.
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