Honda preparing Dakar assault

Read on twitter today that Team HRC Rally rider Felipe Zanol crashed while testing and has been hospitalized..
anybody know anything on this? :huh

Also tweeted by Doyle with no details yet.

News
Felipe Zanol crashes during training for Dakar 2013
By Fanni Duarte | 05/12/2012 - Updated at 15:12


Felipe Zanol is hospitalized in California.
Taken: Jorge Cunha / Honda
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The pilot Felipe Zanol champions of Country Rally 2012 in Motorcycle category, had an accident on Tuesday (4) while training for the Dakar 2013 with Team HRC team in the city of Barstow, California, United States. The Brazilian was hospitalized and, according to his press office, the medical bulletin has not been disclosed. The region where the drop is 185 kilometers from Los Angeles and is part of the Mojave Desert, which houses a ground gravel roads with high speed, sand and rocks. Zanol finalized the calendar of competitions on Saturday (1), in the city of Itu, São Paulo, Red Bull Cross Choice, competition pilots who united several modalities in a dispute unprecedented format, since at certain points of the circuit the contestant had to choose between four ways, requiring different skills . The pilot left the fight in the semifinal after a fall without gravity.

The Spanish report is about right, the accident happened on Tuesday on a fast bumpy section near Bairstow. Philipe was airlifted to hospital unconscious and up to 24 hours or so ago had not come round, so fingers crossed and prayers for him guys.

Sam also crashed at about 100 kmph after 15kms of riding (not his fault!) and is recovering in LA after an op on a broken wrist, so not looking good for Jan 2013 but he is fortunately ok, just the mental side of this happening at this stage and especially after last year also.

Nothing more to add for now.

Airlifts in this area go to Loma Linda University Medical Center, so Felipe has the best trauma staff in the world attending to his injuries.

Shit.
Fingers crossed.

That really sucks, best wishes for a speedy recovery... Gonna search for any official release on wether he will make it to Lima, or news of a replacement...

Someone on twitter:

"The good news we've been waiting, Davi Rampazzo informs that Felipe Zanol got out of the induced coma. Go Zanol!"

Thanks for the update, Carlos.

Let's hope there are no big issues! Go Felipe!

Unfortunately not good, definitely out of Dakar, he is devastated mentally that all that hard work in training and preparation has gone to waste. Operated on in California yesterday, broken scaphoid to be wired and approx 12 weeks recovery through no fault of his own I am absolutey gutted for him. Praying for Philipe Zanol also and feel for both him and his family. You have to ask, why on earth did Honda not organise for test riders this close to the Dakar?

Shit.

Gutted for Sam & Felipe.

Was another vehicle involved? Sorry, haven't been keeping up to date on the details

Oh damn, we were looking forward to following him.
What do you mean by "no fault of his own"? Did someone crash into him?

I cannot really say, will have to wait for the Honda press release but I can say that no other vehicle or person was involved.

Thank you Doyle for your kind words and here's to a better and luckier 2013 for him (discounting the Dakar in January of course!) when the rally raids restart in March, just hope he is ready as such a long recovery time for scaphoid unfortunately. No-one could put more effort in to something than Sam does, 100% commitment all the time and he was so excited and so wanted this Dakar under his belt He is still very young so hopefully things will come right in the end for him as no-one deserves it more than him although I guess I am slightly biased being a mum!!