Story By: Juan Mayes, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Golder’s News And Sport 

This is the gruesome gash French motorcycle racer Xavier de Soultrait received after falling at just 10 kph during the Dakar Rally and was forced to make a tourniquet out of tape to stop the bleeding.

Yamaha motorcycle racer De Soultrait, 31, was participating in the third day of the 2020 Dakar Rally race yesterday (Tuesday) being held in Saudi Arabia when he suffered the injury.

The image shows De Soultrait’s right forearm with a gash on his wrist so large that it exposes the flesh under his skin.

Coagulated blood can be seen around his wrist however the injury appears to have been cleaned with iodine. The caption reading “ “All the Medical team in the Dakar are awesome. Thanks a lot! (sic)” can be seen written above it.

The French rider later made a post saying: “P8. Awesome first part of the day. I was P3 until km 350 where I crashed (10km/h) and I cut my hand on a rock. I finished more slow and finally 8th of the stage.

“I’m very sorry for my blu (French) friend @adrienvanbeveren who crash hard this morning, good luck! I also pass 1hour with the medical to fix my (hand). Tomorrow day 4. (sic).”

Local media report De Soultrait partially damaged his median nerve and received seven stitches to close the wound.

He was forced to drop out of the rally today (Wednesday) due to the injury sustained in yesterday’s fall.

De Soultrait’s wife Betty de Soultrait spoke with local media and said: “It was impossible for him to continue. He had a difficult time gripping and holding on to the bike.

“It was too painful, and above all, too dangerous. He is obviously disappointed” but assured his fans that “he will come back stronger.”

French motorcycle racer Adrien Van Beveren, 29, also a rider for the Yamaha team, suffered a difficult fall in the same stage and was transported via helicopter to receive medical attention.

Reports later surfaced confirming he had suffered a broken collar bone and a bruised hip leaving him out of the competition.

The 2020 Dakar Rally is the 42nd edition of the competition which started on 5th January and is set to finish on 17th January.

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