Ross Branch’s World Rally-Raid Championship defense did not start as he hoped when he crashed out of the Dakar Rally, suffering a mild concussion. Fortunately, his wife Aimee Leigh Branch confirmed Friday that he should be good to go for the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge.

The 2024 Dakar bike runner-up, Branch was running fourth overall when he crashed 48 kilometers into Stage #6. He was airlifted to the hospital in Ha’il, where CT scans came back clear and he was discharged.

Aimee later added her husband’s body was “a bit beat up” and he had a “slight concussion”, but remembered the accident and that he was chasing Hero teammate José Ignacio Cornejo and “setting a good pace” beforehand.

After over a month to recuperate, he is back in Abu Dhabi. Branch and Hero underwent a successful shakedown on Thursday without incident.

“With first testing only happening this week we weren’t too sure on what the result would be but happy to share that Rossi is going to give Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge a go,” Aimee wrote on Friday morning.

Branch finished second to Hero colleague Aaron Marè in the 2024 ADDC; both were the only RallyGP riders entered. This time, he faces more competition as eight other riders are taking part including Cornejo. Hero’s third rider Sebastian Bühler is not taking part after breaking his collarbone at Dakar.

The ADDC begins with the Prologue on Saturday.

Featured image credit: Irina Petrichel / Edophoto / DPPI