The motorcycle rider, Joey Evans who was paralyzed from below his chest in 2007 not only learnt to walk again but went on to realise his dream by finishing the Dakar Rally last year, will try a new facet of motorsport when he will read the notes from the navigators’ seat for Terence Marsh (Red-Lined Motorsport Nissan Navara) at the upcoming Atlas Copco 400.
The Atlas Copco 400 takes place on 3 and 4 August and forms round four of the South African Cross Country Series (SACCS). Having visited the Dullstroom area in Mpumalanga for the opening round of the season for the very first time, the series will again be breaking new ground when it ventures to the Bronkhorstspruit area on the border of Gauteng and Mpumalanga. This means a clean slate for everyone which adds to the excitement of the championship.
Evans a keen sportsman had done several marathons and ultra-marathons, hiked the Fish River Canyon, completed the Roof of Africa Enduro, raced the Botswana 1000 Desert Race on a bike and criss-crossed South Africa and neighbouring countries on a dirt bike before the devastating racing accident changed his life dramatically.
The accident, during a local off-road motorcycle race, broke his back and crushed his spinal cord that left him completely paralyzed from just below his chest. His injury was diagnosed as a T8-T9 incomplete spinal cord injury with about a 10% chance to walk again. True to his tenacious nature, he was determined to recover and 10 years later, he achieved his dream and completed the Dakar Rally, however, the 9 000 gruelling kilometres and two weeks of racing saw him having to overcome challenges he could never have imagined.
Evans became an international hero and his story touched thousands of people all over the world. After the Dakar Rally, he wrote his book, ‘From Para To Dakar’. As a motivational speaker his presentations of his real-life story leaves audiences with a renewed drive to chase their goals and dreams.
“We are very excited to have Joey as a celebrity navigator at the Atlas Copco 400 in Bronkhorstspruit, adding another adventure to his list,” said Red-Lined Motorsport team principal and driver, Terence Marsh. “The team has enormous admiration for Joey who conquered his ordeal. Having been to the Dakar Rally on numerous occasions and knowing what the competitors go through and to know how tough it was for him, just adds to that. We hope to provide him with another unforgettable motoring experience,” Marsh concluded.
Race headquarters for the Atlas Copco 400 as well as the Start/Finish and designated service point will be located at the Soetdoring Function venue on the outskirts of Bronkhorstspruit for the qualifying race on Friday, 3 August as well as the main race on Saturday, 4 August.