Australian world champion Daniel Sanders has vowed to battle on with a broken collarbone and sternum, despite a dreadful crash ending his dream of becoming back-to-back Dakar Rally motorbike champion.<\/p>\n
Regardless of the obvious pain that awaits him over the final three stages in the Saudi Arabian desert, the reigning Dakar and world rally-raid motorcycle champ is adamant he will fight on to the end of the sport’s most celebrated and gruelling race on Saturday.<\/p>\n
“We don’t quit,” the Victorian said.<\/p>\n
“Mum and Dad didn’t raise no quitter, so I’m not pulling out now until someone else tells me to pull out, or they drag me out of the race. I’m not stopping.”<\/p>\n
As the 31-year-old Sanders controlled the race, more than six minutes ahead overall, he suffered a calamity 138 kilometres into the second half of a marathon stage from Wadi ad Dawasir to Bisha when careering over one of the huge dunes at high speed.<\/p>\n
Suffering a heavy crash on his factory Red Bull KTM, the 31-year-old eventually remounted gingerly with some help from rival Ricky Brabec, but ended 28 minutes behind stage 10 winner Adrien van Beveren’s Honda by the finish, and dropped from first to fourth overall.<\/p>\n
Sanders is now 17:37 behind new leader, American two-time winner Brabec.<\/p>\n
“It looks like, for sure, a snapped left collarbone,” Sanders said.<\/p>\n
“We went over a dune and it was pretty scary, and I nearly landed on Tosha [Schareina, the Spanish rider who’s third overall].<\/p>\n
“I got up and knew the collarbone was broken \u2014 and also the sternum, I’ve broken this as well \u2014 so there’s no power.<\/p>\n
“It wasn’t nice in the dunes at all, but unfortunately, we’ve let the rally go now.”<\/p>\n
But he said he will carry on, even though he accepts there is now no chance of him becoming the first man for 11 years to win the Dakar motorbike race in two consecutive editions.<\/p>\n
“The main focus now is to keep going, manage the pain, and finish the Dakar,” he said.<\/p>\n
“It’s obviously disappointing after being in such a strong position, but we’re not quitters and I’m proud that I was able to push through and reach the finish today.<\/p>\n
“There’s a lot of pain and it’s not easy to ride like this, but my mindset is to stay positive, take it day by day, and keep fighting to the end.”<\/p>\n
Sanders said the rocky stages coming up should be more forgiving than the sand dunes he just navigated.<\/p>\n
“It’s all rocks now, so I can just stand up and cruise along. If it was sand dunes, it would be tough,” he said.<\/p>\n