Deen Munsters, the bike rider with a prosthetic lower left leg, will race the Dakar Rally next January. He was one of the 130 to receive their acceptance letter from the ASO this week.

“IT’S OFFICIAL! I’M IN! WE ARE GOING TO MAKE HISTORY! CAN’T DESCRIBE WHAT IS GOING THROUGH ME,” he proclaimed on Tuesday.

Munsters’ left leg was amputated below the knee after a scooter accident and 18 surgeries. Despite losing the leg, he completed his rehab and got back to riding in motocross.

Last October, he competed in the Rallye du Maroc to qualify for Dakar. He crashed on the penultimate stage and his bike broke down during the final day, but he successfully completed the race 60th in Rally2. The Dutchman also plans to run the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge as a dress rehearsal for Dakar.

He also went to the 2025 South African Safari Rally to experience the inner workings of the World Rally-Raid Championship. Munsters had intended to take part but was encouraged by Dakar director David Castera to try a desert rally like Morocco since it better fits the Dakar’s profile.

While he isn’t the first amputee to race Dakar (Mathieu Baumel being the most notable example), Munsters is the unique case of being one on a motorcycle. Of course, like the legendary navigator, he’s keen on proving his disability doesn’t hamper him in the world’s biggest rally raid.

Featured image credit: Frédéric Le’Floch / DPPI / ASO