Breaking news this morning as Monster Energy Honda rider Ricky Brabec has crashed out of the 2023 Dakar Rally on stage three – USA’s only Dakar winner was airlifted to hospital for further checks.

Ricky Brabec has crashed out of the 2023 Dakar Rally after 274 kilometres of today’s stage three. The Monster Energy Honda rider was reported as suffering with neck pains and after being attended at the scene, has been transferred to hospital for further medical checks.

Update: the Honda team has tonight confirmed after undergoing medical checks, Ricky has no fractures or serious injuries. 

That of course puts the former Dakar champion out of the 2023 rally at this early stage, and follows Sam Sunderland’s early exit in this first week.

After winning the opening stage on the rally, Ricky had been making amends for tough day two where he had to open the piste – not something he'd planned for but manh of his rivals collected speeding penalties promoting him to top spot.

Before the incident today the big man had been setting a blistering pace along with Daniel Sanders on corrected time and was looking good to make up time lost the previous day.

Photo Credit: Honda Racing | MCH