"Emotionally overwhelmed"

336 days after breaking the 1st cervical vertebra on the podium

Michael Sandner broke his first cervical vertebra and is now celebrating his racing comeback.(Bild: Irina Gorodnyakova, zVg, Krone KREATIV)

These are stories that only sport can write: In April 2023, motocross rider Michael Sandner wrestled with death after a crash at the World Championship race in Italy. 336 days later, however, the Upper Austrian is now celebrating his comeback and finished first in the memorial race for a deceased team-mate. 

"I have mixed feelings, but I'm definitely ready for it," said Michael Sandner before Sunday. Because the world championship motocrosser will be marking March 17, 2024 very clearly in his calendar. Especially as he was competing in a race for the first time since his horror crash 336 days ago.

"Brutally rattled in the head!"
"I knew it would be tough, but I never thought it would be so difficult mentally. It rattled brutally in my head," said the HSV-Ried rider, who crashed so badly in April 2023 at the World Championship race in Italy that he suffered his first cervical vertebra (!), thoracic vertebrae and other serious injuries.

One-day victory in Hungary
The fact that Sandner is back on his KTM less than a year later and racing in Hungary, as he did on Sunday, is nothing short of a miracle. "Emotionally, I was a bit overwhelmed, it brought tears to my eyes," said Sandner, after taking the day's victory with first and second place.

Michael Sandner also receives a lot of support from his girlfriend Katarina.(Bild: zVg)

"It was very touching"
The reason why the 25-year-old threw himself back into the racing action in Hungary of all places also gave him goosebumps. His team-mate Bence Szvoboda had died in a fatal accident just a short time after his serious accident. The first Szvoboda Memorial Race has now been held in his memory. "It wasn't easy for all of us, including the team. It was very touching," says Sandner, who wants to contest the entire domestic championship this year. The season opener will take place on April 1 in Paldau.