Kiwi Rider June Vol.2 2023 | Page 18

DIRT NEWS

GASGAS ’ DANIEL SANDERS SIDELINED

Just a month after taking his first-ever FIM

World Rally-Raid Championship race victory , GasGas ’ Daniel Sanders has come unstuck with the Australian breaking his leg in a training accident . Sanders sustained the injury to his right leg while training in the Australian Outback on Sunday , May 28 , the result of which saw him breaking his right femur . Sanders underwent successful surgery to repair the damage and is feeling good post-op , and is looking forward to beginning his recovery . The injury is likely to put Sanders out of action for several months , but with the aid of his team and medical professionals , he hopes to be back riding and racing as soon as possible . Sanders summed up the setback as both annoying and disappointing , “ I ’ m so annoyed , not to mention disappointed ,” he said . “ All I was doing was having fun on the rally bike and had a small crash , but I ’ ve ended up like this with a broken leg . Thankfully , the surgery seems to have gone well , which is good news – I ’ m feeling good too . It ’ s going to take a while before I can get back on the bike and racing again , but I ’ m going to do my best to make it happen ASAP . Thanks to all the team for all their support , and hopefully we can carry on the good results from Sonora into the rest of this year .” “ It ’ s really sad for the team to have Daniel sidelined with injury so soon after he put in such an amazing performance to win the Sonora Rally ,” said GasGas Rally Team Manager , Norbert Stadlbauer . “ It ’ s been a tough year for the team with Sam ( Sunderland ) also suffering from injury at the beginning of the season . But we have to keep looking forward , and as such , we wish Daniel all the best for a quick recovery and look forward to havinghim back underneath the GASGAS tent and racing again . We ’ re not sure how long the recovery will take , but obviously the main focus , as always , is the Dakar next January . We ’ ll be working our hardest to be prepared fully for then .”
18 KIWI RIDER