Best time in training, two race wins, European Championship title: Motocross rider Marcel Stauffer’s weekend results would be impressive even without the history. But this comeback by the 23-year-old from Salzburg is actually nothing short of a miracle. In November of last year, the KTM test rider was an intensive care patient, terrified of death, after a training accident in Italy. Before his incredible return to the motocross track, Stauffer had to endure months of ordeal.
On November 7, 2023, Stauffer fell so fatally during a jump in Italy that he broke two cervical vertebrae (C1, C2) and one thoracic vertebrae (T5), and his lungs were also injured. A few days after the fall, Stauffer was transferred to the University Clinic for Neurosurgery in Salzburg. According to the textbook, he would have had to undergo surgery. That would have meant that the upper cervical spine would have been stiffened – which would have definitely ended the career of the seven-time national champion, who wanted to gain a foothold in the World Championship (MX2 class).
Instead of surgery, the Salzburg native’s head was fixed with a halo fixator until the broken vertebrae had healed. The frame was attached to Stauffer’s head with screws. Stauffer had to wear the halo fixator, which he called “my personal prison”, for twelve weeks. After his “liberation” he thought about motocross riding again. 178 days after the fatal accident he was back on the motorcycle – in Italy, on the very track where the crash happened.
Image: Instagram
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Image: Instagram
The European Championship title (EMX 2-stroke) at the weekend in Loket, Czech Republic, was the crowning glory of the comeback miracle. But Stauffer is already thinking ahead – to the MX2 World Championship. “I’m really happy to be back in the paddock and can hardly wait to take part in MXGP events,” said the Salzburg native in his victory interview on Sunday.
