Sam Sunderland and Daniel Sanders centered on a profitable begin to 2024.
It’s virtually time for Dakar! And Crimson Bull GASGAS Manufacturing facility Racing’s Sam Sunderland and Daniel Sanders are each excited to be taking up the world’s hardest rally-raid! The superfast duo are definitely no strangers to the celebrated occasion, as Sam’s a two-time winner and Daniel narrowly missed out on the general podium in his first ever Dakar again in 2021. Following what’s been a difficult 2023 season for each riders, they’re fired-up for one more run on the world’s most punishing rally.
Seeking to make a optimistic begin to 2024, Sunderland and Sanders are wanting to tackle the problem of the Dakar Rally. In current weeks, the RX 450F riders have been testing with the group in America in preparation for the forty sixth version of the race, and with their bike set-ups dialed in, they’re now totally centered on attending to Saudi Arabia, and getting racing.
Along with Sam, we’re drawing a line underneath a troublesome 2023 season. Dakar 2024 affords a brand new begin and one other likelihood for him to clinch a 3rd victory on the grueling occasion. With intensive Dakar expertise, this will likely be Sam’s eleventh time lining up for the race, and collectively along with his data of how this rally is gained, we’re anticipating the Brit to be operating up entrance from day one.
Final season was definitely certainly one of blended fortunes Sam’s teammate, Daniel Sanders. After inserting seventh at Dakar, the hard-charging Aussie went on to win his first FIM World Rally-Raid Championship spherical on the Sonora Rally in April. Sadly, simply weeks later, Daniel sustained a season-ending leg damage. However the excellent news is, he’s again on his GASGAS, again to close 100% health, and looking out ahead to the upcoming Dakar.
Sam Sunderland: “It was nice to spend a while in America placing the ultimate touches on Dakar 2024 preparations and all the pieces went rather well. Throughout testing with the group we’re all the time working exhausting to search out the smallest particulars to enhance issues with the bike, and I feel come January, we’ll be rewarded for our efforts. I’m feeling actually good and filled with motivation after some exhausting work, which I’ll proceed till we head off to Saudi Arabia. I’m excited for the race and I feel we’ll have run this 12 months!”
Daniel Sanders: “We’ve been performing some testing and coaching in America making ready for the race and all the pieces has been going effectively! It’s been six and a half months since I broke my femur – a fairly lengthy restoration because it was a nasty break, and therapeutic wasn’t actually going to plan. I had a fast surgical procedure on the finish of October, so the final six weeks have been massively higher, and I’ve been in a position to get on the bike to get a month’s coaching in. It appears like the primary week of Dakar goes to be exhausting with very lengthy levels so endurance would be the key, in addition to having the perfect setup on the bike to avoid wasting vitality. The plan is to simply begin off simple and regularly acquire extra confidence and velocity. Being with the group so much just lately has been actually optimistic and motivating and it’s helped me get my confidence again. Hopefully my luck will flip in 2024 and I’ll have Dakar after a tough go at it through the previous two years.”
Andreas Hölzl – Rally Staff Supervisor: “After the ultimate take a look at within the US, the boys are wanting actually assured and effectively prepped for Dakar! Sam is match, he’s assured on the bike and comfortable along with his setup. And along with his expertise and Dakar expertise, he’s wanting actually good. Lastly, we have now Daniel again after his lengthy restoration, he’s wanting promising and he is aware of the Dakar effectively too, so he ought to be quick! From the technical aspect we’re effectively ready and have made some massive steps. Every little thing goes because it ought to, so we’re able to go!”
The 2024 Dakar Rally begins January 5, 2024, and covers 14 levels via the desert of Saudi Arabia earlier than ending on January 19. This 12 months’s version contains a new 48-hour, 584km ‘Chrono Stage’ the place opponents will likely be break up throughout eight totally different bivouacs in a single day. It’s shaping as much as be the hardest Dakar but!
