They are stories that only sport writes: In April 2023, motocrosser Michael Sandner struggled with death after a fall at the World Cup race in Italy. 336 days later, the Upper Austrian is now celebrating his comeback and came first in the Memorial Race for a deceased teammate.
“I have mixed feelings, but I’m definitely ready for it,” Michael Sandner said before Sunday. Because the World Championship motocrosser will mark March 17, 2024 heavily in his calendar. Especially since he was competing in a race for the first time since his horror crash 336 days ago. “Brutal rattling in my head!” “I knew it would be hard, but I didn’t think it would be so difficult mentally. “It was rattling brutally in my head,” said the HSV Ried pilot, who fell so badly during the World Cup race in Italy in April 2023 that he suffered the first cervical vertebra (!), thoracic vertebrae and other serious injuries. Victory of the day in HungaryThe fact that Sandner is back on his KTM less than a year later and is racing like he did on Sunday in Hungary is nothing short of a miracle. “Emotionally I was a bit overwhelmed, it brought tears out of me,” said Sandner after he had also won the day with 1st and 2nd place. “It was very touching” The reason why the 25th place was also caused additional goosebumps -year-old plunged back into racing in Hungary, of all places. Shortly after his serious accident, his teammate Bence Szvoboda had a fatal accident. The first Szvoboda Memorial Race was held in his memory. “It wasn’t easy for all of us, including the team. It was very touching,” says Sandner, who wants to compete in the entire domestic championship this year. The kick-off will take place on April 1st in Paldau.
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