Vincent Biau planned to compete in the 2026 Dakar Rally with his new rally-spec Suzuki DR-Z4S, but he faces an uphill battle after suffering multiple fractures in a crash during the bike’s debut at the Baja Morocco.

The accident occurred on the penultimate stage when he made a mistake just a few kilometers before the finish. Before the crash, he was running in the top ten for bikes. Biau had to be airlifted to the hospital in Errachidia, where he was diagnosed with fractures to the ribs, vertebrae, and clavicle, a ruptured spleen, and internal bleeding that required a transfusion.

Eight days later, he returned to France and was brought to the University Hospital of Montpellier. An additional screening revealed he had actually suffered unstable fractures of the D6, D7, and D8 thoracic vertebrae, cervical fractures to the C6 and C7 vertebrae, a fractured scapula, the aforementioned spleen injury, and eight to ten broken ribs. He underwent a surgery that lasted over six hours to install screws and metal rods.

He resumed walking last week after being bedridden for three weeks. From there, he will begin rehab on Friday.

Given the scale of his injuries, he admitted his hopes of racing Dakar are “fading away, for now, but the dream remains and I intend to get back up.”

If he manages to recover in time (a tall order since Dakar is only two months away), Biau would be the first Suzuki rider at Dakar since 2019.

After eschewing the 2025 Dakar for the Africa Eco Race with his V-Strom 800DE, he decided to return to Saudi Arabia in 2026 with the D4-Z4S. He made various modifications so the dual-sport bike complies with rally regulations, such as adding a new navigation tower.

Biau described the motorcycle as “crazy” after the first stage, where he finished seventh. Despite that descriptor, he also mentioned it “didn’t scare me, even in the large holes and ascents. In the rougher sections, it’s still light, much lighter than a rally bike.”

Featured image credit: Suzuki Racing