zzdcar
Home
/
Reviews
/
Racing
/
Dakar Rider Hit By Lightning, Finishes Day Anyway
Dakar Rider Hit By Lightning, Finishes Day Anyway-September 2024
2024-02-19 EST 22:11:26

Slovakian rider Ivan Jakes was struck by lightning in the Salar Centenario area on the third stage of the Dakar Rally, reports . Of course it didn’t stop him. Who stops for a pesky little nuisance like lightning on the Dakar?

Jakes, who rides a KTM for his own team in the rally, was 186 miles from the finish line when lightning struck him during a storm. He felt the hit, but kept riding despite pain in his left arm, ultimately finishing 15th on the stage.

Doctors credited the bike for saving Jakes’ life to Motorsport.com. Much like what happens when lightning strikes a car, the KTM conducted electricity through the ground. Had Jakes stepped off the bike and grounded that electricity through him instead, he would have been injured much worse.

Jakes was later checked and cleared to return to competition in a Jujuy hospital. According to an update from the , Jakes started off on Stage 4 this morning. Clearly, it’s going to take a lot more than angry sky-blasts to stop this man from finishing Dakar.

Comments
Welcome to zzdcar comments! Please keep conversations courteous and on-topic. To fosterproductive and respectful conversations, you may see comments from our Community Managers.
Sign up to post
Sort by
Show More Comments
Racing
Formula One Needs to Race on an Oval Before It Can Be the Pinnacle of Motorsport
Formula One Needs to Race on an Oval Before It Can Be the Pinnacle of Motorsport
Formula One is often lauded as the pinnacle of motorsport. A quick reveals everything you need to know: articles, forum threads, and lengthy comparisons to other racing series to further establish that F1 is the top racing series in the world. And I might be inclined to agree… except for...
Sep 10, 2025
Brad Keselowski Secures Team Penske's 500th Win in Las Vegas
Brad Keselowski Secures Team Penske's 500th Win in Las Vegas
The answer to the question many of us race fans have been wondering has been answered. Who’s going to be the driver to secure Team Penske’s 500th win? Brad Keselowski responded to the call. Keselowski has been on a roll. Despite dominating the last three races, the odds weren’t necessarily...
Sep 10, 2025
Scott Dixon Becomes the Second Driver Ever to Win Five IndyCar Championship Titles
Scott Dixon Becomes the Second Driver Ever to Win Five IndyCar Championship Titles
IndyCar’s season finale at Sonoma brought with it a sense of possibility and finality. As the final race ever at (for now) and one destined to bring home glory for one of the four men in championship contention, it was always going to be good. But, at the end of...
Sep 10, 2025
I Never Want to See Another Gray, White, and Red Race Car Livery in My Life
I Never Want to See Another Gray, White, and Red Race Car Livery in My Life
Race teams, I know it’s tempting. I know you think it looks sleek. I know you all want to introduce your own version of the Batmobile. But I’m asking—no, I’m begging—you. Please. Please stop with the gray, white, and red liveries. They were cool, once, back when they were a...
Sep 10, 2025
Please Enjoy These Excellent Butt-Clenching Saves From the Goodwood Revival
Please Enjoy These Excellent Butt-Clenching Saves From the Goodwood Revival
The is awesome in many ways—it takes place in England, you get dressed up, everyone looks fabulous—but perhaps the most awesome thing about it is that the priceless vintages cars actually get driven and raced against each other. Is it terrifying at times? You bet it is. One of the...
Sep 10, 2025
How Many Playoff Drivers Does It Take to Finish a NASCAR Race?
How Many Playoff Drivers Does It Take to Finish a NASCAR Race?
The answer? Not many, apparently. The NASCAR playoffs have officially kicked off this Sunday at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway’s South Point 400, and it was less a race to win than it was a race to the finish for the sixteen drivers competing for the championship at the end...
Sep 10, 2025
Copyright 2023-2025 - www.zzdcar.com All Rights Reserved