DIRT NEWS
KTM RALLY STAR SIDELINED FROM DAKAR
Red Bull KTM ’ s 2024 Dakar lineup is on shaky ground with confirmation that Mattias Walkner will be unable to race due to a leg injury . While training with the team in California on December 5 , Walkner unfortunately fell from his KTM 450 Rally , which resulted in him breaking his tibia , fibula , and ankle joint . Walkner was flown to the hospital in Palm Springs , where he underwent a successful surgery to repair the damage . The 2018 Dakar Rally Champion will require further surgery in due course , which he hopes to have carried out at home in Austria . While the Austrian rider is recovering well following the surgery , the extent of the damage is such that he will be unable to compete in the Dakar Rally in January . In what was a tough few days for the Red Bull KTM team , Walkner ’ s teammate Kevin Benavides also injured his left leg while testing earlier this month . Thankfully , Benevide ’ s injury was not deemed too serious , but the reigning Dakar Champion had to cut short his training schedule . With just under one month to go before the
Kevin Benavides
Matthias Walkner
Dakar start , Benavides is expected to make a positive recovery and will take part in the rally . “ It ’ s been a very difficult few days for the team here in the United States ,” explains Team Manager , Andreas Hölzl . “ Training for the Dakar had been going extremely well , with all riders working very hard . Kevin damaged his leg last Sunday , but thankfully , it wasn ’ t too bad . We hope he will be back to near full fitness by Dakar . On Monday , Matthias had a nasty crash while training , which ended up in him having several fractures . The surgery went really well , and they have attached a fixator to his left leg to help the recovery , but he will require more surgery , once the swelling starts to go down . Obviously , these two incidents have been a massive blow to the team , but we will continue to look ahead and do all we can to be as strong as possible for Dakar . The whole team wishes both Matthias and Kevin a quick and full recovery .” The 2024 Dakar Rally kicks into gear on January 5 in Saudi Arabia with the world ’ s toughest race running until January 19 .
20 KIWI RIDER