Titanium Heart Chain

Series stage 13 gossip

16.01.10

Six months ago, Marek Dabrowski would never have imagined taking part in the Dakar in the bike category and he would have less imagined ranking 36th two stages from the end of the rally raid. A bad shoulder injury ironically obtained after riding the sand dunes of Copiapo in 2007 brought true ordeal on the Polish rider. "I underwent a first surgery before getting an infection and needing five more rounds of surgery. The bone of my shoulder was atrophied," recalls the man who finished the Dakar ninth in 2003. He had then to undergo more bone injections, endless pain and - more importantly - a long dark period that seemed never-ending. "I went to see specialists in Russia, Austria, the US. For all of them, there was no solution. I paid 600$ to be told that I was condemned to never racing bikes ever again." He tried one last thing last june and went to Montpellier to see Dr. Tessier, a shoulder specialist. Two weeks later, he was on the operating table for the installing of a titanium prosthetis and "two days later I had no paind, I could do away with the drugs I was taking to kill the pain." Cured at last, he hopped right back on his bike and with as litte preparation as he had, he could start the Dakar. "I am not at my best but I am here. Vive la France and thank you!"

Source: Motorsport.com