James Hillier stated he was “shocked” and “pissed off” to drag out of this 12 months’s Dakar Rally as a consequence of harm.
Hillier withdrew from Dakar 2026 after stage one. He crashed across the 250km mark and injured his arm. The fracture was found after the stage.
Hillier was pissed off not solely by being out of the rally, but in addition by crashing when he felt he was not taking dangers.
“(The accident) was not deliberate,” Hillier stated in a video posted to Instagram on Monday, the day after the accident.
“I felt like I rode actually conservatively yesterday and ended up crashing slowly and touchdown awkwardly on my arm on the rock, so I used to be actually pissed off… and that’s the way it ended.
“Additionally, I injured my center finger on my left hand. It seems to be just like the harm was in a spot it shouldn’t be! I don’t know if I ought to get an X-ray, however it’s okay.
“Anyway, I can relaxation now. But it surely was an actual shock. But it surely may have been quite a bit worse.
“This recreation is harmful, I knew that, I knew the dangers, and it is simply irritating not having the ability to end (first) – that was my aim, to complete, to not are available in final place.
“Anyway, thanks for all of the feedback and help. I am nonetheless processing the whole lot. My physique will heal. It is irritating, however that is the Dakar.”
An everyday street racer, he added that he thought-about persevering with after the fracture was found, however determined the space was too lengthy to securely run the rally.
“It’s totally irritating to see everybody maintain driving once I cannot experience,” he stated.
“Consider me, I’ve questioned it many instances. I may barely sleep final night time and requested myself if I may do that. I believe I can in all probability do it for a day or two, however there is not any manner I can do one other 7,500km.”
“If I injury my arm any additional, I am going to need to have surgical procedure, and if I run into bother, I haven’t got the power left (in my left arm) to manage the bike, so there is a excessive threat of crashing once more, so it is too dangerous.
“So I am nonetheless accepting that call. It is arduous to simply accept, however it’s the fitting determination.”
