Portuguese rider Joaquim Rodrigues suffered a fall after 90km of the special at the 2023 Dakar Rally, injuring his left leg.
According to the race’s website, on Wednesday, December 4, 2023, the Dakar medical team took Joaquim to a hospital in Ha’il.
His motorcycle was thereafter airlifted off the course by a helicopter.
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Joaquim, who led his team to its first-stage victory in the 2022 Dakar competition, will not continue in this year's edition.
In the general standings, Joaquim finished the third stage in 10th place and was ranked 16th before starting his fourth stage.
It's worth noting that the Hero rider finished the third stage in tenth place; in the general standings, he was the 16th best rider before starting this fourth stage.
Fellow teammate Ricky Brabec crashed on Tuesday, January 3, today, leaving the race.
Before making his return to Dakar at the 2019 Dakar Rally, Joaquim Rodrigues experienced a life-threatening crash during the 2018 edition.
Joaquim overshot a sand dune, and his bike landed in another dune, where he was thrown off the bike suffering multiple injuries.
He was hospitalized after having injured his hand and back, taking six months to recuperate.
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