- Retirement on stage 1 of the 2026 Dakar Rally
- Broken arm after crash at kilometer 250
- First Dakar retirement after two finishes
James Hillier has made a name for himself over the years as a persistent and resilient racer, especially at the Isle of Man Tourist Trophy. The Briton, on the other hand, competes in the Dakar Rally more out of personal motivation. This makes his early exit in his third participation all the more bitter.
Early end after unfortunate crash
The 40-year-old Englishman from Bournemouth still reached the finish line of the first stage, but was already 1 hour and 19 minutes behind the leaders. The decisive factor was a crash at around kilometer 250. According to Hillier, the accident occurred at a relatively low speed, but the impact on rocky ground had serious consequences.
Hillier initially continued the stage despite the pain. It was only after crossing the finish line that an examination at the medical center revealed the diagnosis. His arm was broken just below the elbow. The doctors then strongly advised him not to continue the Dakar Rally.
Hillier was understandably devastated:
“I kept going and finished the stage, but deep down I knew I had injured myself. After a visit to the medical center, it was confirmed that I had broken my arm just below the elbow. I was advised to withdraw for the rest of the event. Disappointed is an understatement. It took a lot for me to get here.”
Third Dakar participation ends in retirement for the first time
After 2023 and 2025, the 2026 Dakar Rally was Hillier’s third start in the desert rally. In his two previous appearances, he had reached the finish line despite injuries. On his debut in 2023, he continued driving after a shoulder injury and finished the rally. In 2025, he even made it to the finish line despite breaking his nose on the first stage.
This year, he was denied that opportunity. Although he finished the prologue in 52nd place and the first stage in 59th, the injury prevented him from continuing. This meant that Hillier had to retire early for the first time in his Dakar career.
Alone in the Original by Motul class
Hillier competed again in 2026 in the Original by Motul category, formerly known as Malle Moto. In this class, riders compete in the rally as lone warriors without team support. Hillier openly stated that he would prefer to be part of a team, but that this was hardly feasible for financial reasons.
“Admittedly, I would rather ride in a team than in Malle Moto. It’s just that it’s much more expensive with a team – so better this way than not at all,” said the Briton.
The fascination of Dakar despite the risks
While many of his colleagues from the Tourist Trophy scene are rather critical of the Dakar start, Hillier remains convinced of the event. He is particularly impressed by the navigation aspect of the rally. For him, it’s about traveling alone on a motorcycle in remote regions, far away from classic circuit races.
“My TT colleagues think I’m a little crazy for riding the Dakar for fun. But since they’re all a little crazy themselves, I don’t pay any attention to them,” Hillier explained. For him, it’s the combination of solitude, navigation, and endurance that makes the Dakar Rally so appealing.
Whether and when James Hillier will compete in the Dakar Rally again after this injury is currently unclear.
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