Yamaha Rider Pol Tarres Suffers the Biggest Crash of His Life, But He’s OK

It's easy to forget that Tarres is human.

By: Robbie Bacon

Jan 6, 2025 at 8:17am ET

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Where would we be without Pol Tarres? He has provided us with some of the best motorcycle content over the past few years, whether he's competing in the Erzbergrodeo on his Yamaha Tenere 700 or setting the wold record for riding at the highest elevation.

His achievements are so mighty that it's easy to forget he's human, but once he's ripping along on two wheels, he's susceptible to the same dangers that we are. And just recently, he suffered the worst crash of his life.

In an Instagram post, Tarres wrote, "Thanks for all the messages of support-Yesterday I had the hardest crash I’ve ever had, between 5 and 8 minutes unconscious on the ground, I can’t remember anything, but from the way the bike end up, we belive that it was very hard. I am thankful to continue here with you since all the blow was taken by my head and neck..."

The incident happened while Tarres was competing in the Africa Eco Race. It was on the second day of the race at kilometer 111 that he suffered the crash and was found unconscious just moments later by Guillaume Borne. Borne immediately stopped and called for help.

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Tarres suffered bruised ribs and leg hematomas and was taken from the scene of the crash by a medical helicopter. But more serious than his rib and leg injuries is the fact that,\ he was knocked unconscious for five to eight minutes, which forced him to drop out of the race.

When you crash in a rally raid, it's a roll of the dice whether you come out alive, as we saw in the 2024 Dakar Rally when Carles Falcón died following injuries sustained in a crash on Stage 2 of the event. Right now, our thoughts and prayers are with Tarres and his family, wishing him a speedy recovery.