After Dakar crash, Harith Noah walks again, begins recovery in Hamburg

India’s leading Rally Raid motorcycle racer and one of the country’s foremost representatives in global motorsport, Harith Noah, is walking again and has begun his recovery after undergoing surgery here, following a crash during the 2026 Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia on January 4. “I am staying #InTheNow”, he said from a hospital bed in Germany.

Competing at the world’s toughest endurance rally while representing India on the international stage, Harith sustained multiple injuries late in Stage 1, including fractures to the T5, T6 and T8 vertebrae, along with a rib injury. He was initially hospitalised in Saudi Arabia before being transferred to Germany for specialist spinal treatment.

“Things happen, and sometimes you question why,” Harith said. “But you can’t go back or change it. You can only deal with what’s in front of you. For me, that means being in the now, staying with the present moment. ‘Inthenow’ is about embracing the essence of the present. After a week of waiting in Saudi Arabia, I made it to Hamburg and have now undergone surgery. I’ll be here for a few more days.”

Speaking three days after the procedure, the Sports Science graduate said he is under the care of a specialised spinal clinic experienced in treating elite athletes. “Everything went well during the surgery. The pain initially was something I had never experienced before. The pain is still there, but I’m managing it. They’ve already pushed me to walk.” The five-time National Supercross champion said the recovery process has begun but will take time. “They’ve fixed my back with plates and screws. It’s a long road back, but I can sit, walk and do regular things.”

Harith expressed gratitude to his supporters and the Indian motorsport community, especially TVS Racing. “My heart thanks the entire team. TVS Racing has stood firmly by me through this and even flew my mother to be with me. When you’re racing far from home, representing India, that support means everything.” He also thanked Red Bull and acknowledged the messages received from fans and well-wishers across India and around the world.

The Shoranur rider, born 29 January 1993, created history at the Dakar Rally 2024 by winning the Rally2 category, becoming the first rider representing India to win a Dakar class, while also recording the best overall finish by an Indian rider, a 11th overall, along with two Rally2 stage wins, another first for India. A Sherco TVS Rally Factory Team rider, Harith is only the third Indian to complete the Dakar Rally, after C.S. Santosh and K.P. Aravind. The 2026 edition marked his seventh Dakar appearance as a high-performance motorsport athlete, a journey that continues to define India’s

presence at the top-level of endurance motorsport.