Heinz Kinigadner: “I can’t think of a more dangerous sport”

I won’t let go of the Dakar Rally: After his active time, Heinz Kinigadner is still present in the off-road scene as a consultant and brand ambassador for KTM. Until January 19th, the 63-year-old Tyrolean’s focus is on the Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia. His mood before the start at the weekend fluctuates between confidence and unease.

OÖN: As always, the bar is set very high for the KTM team at the Dakar Rally. As the defending champion and former series winner, you are almost doomed to win. Will it work out this year?

Heinz Kinigadner: As always, a lot is possible with the Dakar, so predictions are difficult to make. Honda has invested a lot to make our lives difficult.

Who are their hopes?

Toby Price is in very good form, Sam Sunderland is fit, but he was there when Matthias Walkner had a serious accident. I hope he got over it and didn’t get a crack.

Is it sensible to start the Dakar if you’re not mentally up to speed?

I have a hard time with this topic. Somehow I hope that people will turn on their brains and not risk too much. At the same time, you have to honestly admit that you won’t win anything if you don’t push yourself to the absolute limit. And for the riders who are willing to do it, the Dakar will be damn dangerous.

In recent years, many screws have been turned to reduce the risk. Do you need more?

There are technical solutions such as the ever better functioning airbag, which has already prevented many serious injuries. The 160 km/h limit isn’t so helpful now because most of the bad crashes don’t happen on the high-speed sections, but around 100 km/h. All of the Dakar winners who ride in our team have already broken their thighs. This means that the impacts in this sport are simply violent. I can’t think of a more dangerous sport than riding a Dakar rally on a motorcycle.

Your nephew Tobis Ebster is competing for the first time, what advice would you give him?

I have a bad feeling about it. If he wants to advance in his career, then he has to show up and put his foot down. As far as I’m concerned, he can do that with the prologue, which isn’t particularly long. But on the real stages he should first try to find a rhythm. One day he will meet one of the really fast people on the track. He can try to get attached to someone like that.

Most recently, Matthias Walkner became a victim of the high professional risk. Do you think he will do the Dakar again?

I’ve seen Hiasi lying down so many times, he had to take such brutal beatings and endure a lot of pain. I think that also leaves its mark in the mind. Will he be mentally free and unencumbered enough to take part in a Dakar again? The Hiasi will have to answer the question. What I can imagine is seeing Matthias in a car at the start of the Dakar. It has a bucket seat and a roll cage around it. As a motorcyclist, he brings a quality to the navigation that many racing drivers lack in cars. In my opinion, the Matthias would be ideal for starting the Dakar in a car.