Long-awaited return – Rafał Sonik at the start of the Atacama Rally

Seven months after a severe leg fracture received during the Dakar Rally, Rafał Sonik makes a comeback to the racing arena. The first start of the Polish champion will take place during the third round of the FIM World Championships, in the Atacama Rally in Chile. During the competition, which he won in 2016, Sonik will be able to honestly evaluate his newly regained form.

The moment when Sonik boarded the flight to South America on Friday evening was quite special. It had been precisely seven months since the unfortunate accident during the 5th stage of the 2018 Dakar Rally, which left him with a left tibia fracture. Despite the pain, he had managed to finish the special stage and continue down the 500-kilometer transfer road to the bivouac. After a prompt transport to a hospital in Lima and then to Poland, Sonik had been successfully taken care of by the team of specialists in a medical clinic in Szczecin.

„If I was to assess the complexity of that surgery on a scale of 1 to 10, I would give it a definite 8,” admitted Dariusz Larysz M.D. after a 2-hour procedure performed on the former Dakar winner. „Mr. Sonik is a strong and disciplined man, so I am very optimistic about his future comeback to sports,” he added.

The process of long and arduous rehabilitation had followed with daily exercises under the supervision of his personal trainer and physiotherapist. The determination to return to the world’s marvelous deserts gave Sonik strength to hike his beloved mountain peak, Kasprowy Wierch, as soon as in April. In June, „SuperSonik” got on a quad for the first time after the accident.

„It was my first serious injury since 2011, and the road to recovery has been long and winding. Going back to riding seemed quite impossible back in January. Only after July training and preparations, did I realize I could ride a quad again. I still don’t know if I am able to race again though. This shall become clear in Chile,” asserted Sonik with a smile.

The Atacama Rally takes place in a challenging terrain, characterized by considerable elevation changes, enormous sand dunes, and fickle weather, all of which Sonik’s team members have already experienced. In order to get from Argentina to Chile, the service team had to face downpours, blizzards, and heavy winds over Andean passes.

This year’s edition has attracted many competitors from both Argentina and Chile. Most of them are there with a plan to test new solutions before the Dakar Rally. „It is going to be an important test for me as well. First and foremost, I have to watch out not to overload my left knee and ensure an injury-free experience. At the same time, I want to check my limits during a race in extreme conditions. I am definitely excited about coming back to the top bunch of racers. I can’t wait for the moment when the starter counts off the last five seconds to signal the launch. After that, there will be only the steady murmur of the engine and the boundless space ahead,” said Sonik with enthusiasm.

The Atacama Rally starts on Monday, August 13, with a short prologue, followed by five special stages. The longest stage is 370-kilometer long. The rally headquarters and bivouac are located in the city of Copiapó. The winners will be announced on Saturday, August 18.