As Daniel “Chucky” Sanders prepares for his third Dakar rally, we caught up with him at his home in Three Bridges, Victoria, Australia to chat race preparation, apple farms and Quad Lock.
Chucky is a two-time Australian off-road champion, winner of the International Six Days Enduro and he has won the E3 Class three times. Chucky is no stranger to travelling fast over long distances on his motorcycle, but the 2023 Dakar presents a few challenges.
2021 was Chucky’s first Dakar rally, and with an outstanding fourth place finish as a rookie, and only a fat lip from a bee sting as an injury to come away with, 2022 looked like it would be a promising year for Chucky.
Unfortunately, Dakar 2022 was not the year for Chucky. Coming off a stage win, a crash on the way to the beginning of stage 7 was not the expected result and spelt a disappointing end for what began so promisingly. However, “lucky to be alive”, Chucky had a long road to recovery, having suffered a fracture to his wrist and elbow, and kidney damage. Several operations later, Chucky is eager to get back to the 2023 racing season with team Red Bull GasGas, starting at Dakar 2023 then the World Rally Raid Championship races to follow.
Chucky has spent his recovery time at his family property in Three Bridges, Victoria Australia, where he has his own private rally track which he has been “lucky enough to ride on all his life.
And we’ve got the apple farm that’s 1km down the road from the house. Yeah, it’s just cool to have a really good base and come up, train, work on the bikes, and have friends come down and train as well and just have fun.”
Chucky started using Quad Lock over five years ago now, mounting his phone on his motorcycles, bikes, while running, in the car, and around the farm. Chucky will be providing his Quad Lock fans a daily recap after each day of the Dakar in 2023, so make sure you follow his Instagram and check out his feed to see the recaps after each stage. We will be cheering for you Chucky, and fingers crossed no fat lips this year!
