Matthias Walkner: From Dakar Motorbike to Buggy Comeback After Near-Amputation

Walkner will make his racing return on Wednesday in Portugal as part of the World Rally-Raid Championship series, piloting a vehicle instead of a motorcycle. Even as his leg has healed sufficiently for him to ride a motorcycle recreationally, he acknowledged he can no longer meet his own high standards for competition. “I can no longer meet the high demands I place on myself. I am also no longer willing to capture as much risk as would be needed to compete at the front with a motorcycle,” Walkner explained.

Despite the change in vehicles, the competitive spirit that defines Walkner remains. He will be competing in a four-year-old T4 Can-Am buggy, but recognizes it won’t be competitive due to its lower engine power. “With this, I am not competitive due to the much weaker engine performance. The focus is on learning as much as possible, gaining experience and growing together as a team.” Joining him in the car will be Oliver Pyerin, a childhood friend with no prior motorsport experience – a risk Walkner is willing to take after 35 years of friendship, emphasizing the need for blind trust in his co-pilot’s commands. Pyerin, a former elite soldier with the Jagdkommando, brings the necessary mindset and precision, qualities Walkner observed during training. “He has the drive that I had 20 years ago.”

Even for a seasoned motorsport athlete like Walkner, adapting to a co-pilot was a learning process. A shared mindset is crucial, but he first had to determine when and how to issue commands. Time and experience are needed for communication and understanding to become seamless at high speeds. The duo recently validated their progress with a first-place finish in the Oasis Rally test in Tunisia.

Another significant adjustment for Walkner is operating as a privateer. Throughout his successful KTM career, he relied on a dedicated team, allowing him to focus solely on driving. “A big change.” In Portugal and later in Argentina in May, he will compete in a more powerful T3 Challenger vehicle, not to chase a podium finish, but to accumulate race kilometers and potentially attract the attention of a factory team.

Walkner has consistently expressed his deep passion for the Rally Dakar, having competed in nine previous editions, securing a victory in 2018 and two additional podium finishes. He returned as a spectator last year and now aims to experience the challenge once more, this time with four wheels on the sand.