Xavier de Soultrait explained

Xavier de Soultrait
Nationality:French
Birth Date:9 May 1988

Xavier de Soultrait (born 9 May 1988) is a French rally motorcyclist and driver. De Soultrait has competed primarily in rally raid events, including the Dakar Rally. He won the 2024 Dakar Rally in the SSV class.[1]

Career

De Soultrait began his rally racing career on motorcycles. He made his Dakar Rally debut in 2014, finishing in 34th position.[2] In 2016, de Soultrait won the FIM Bajas World Cup, at the time the top championship for motorcycle rally raids.[3] In 2019, de Soultrait achieved his best finish in the Dakar Rally on bikes, finishing 7th.

In the 2021 Dakar Rally, de Soultrait suffered back injuries in an accident on Stage 8.[4] Though he would return to bikes for 2022, the injuries led de Soultrait to move to four-wheel vehicles for 2023. He entered the SSV class for 2023, finishing 19th in his four-wheel debut. In 2024, de Soultrait won the SSV class for his first career Dakar victory.

Results

Dakar Rally

YearClassVehiclePositionStages won
2014Bikes Yamaha34th0
201513th0
2016DNF0
201787th1
2018DNF0
20197th1
2020DNF0
2021 HusqvarnaDNF0
202215th0
2023SSV Polaris19th0
20241st3

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Dakar 2024 – Snatch success for Xavier de Soultrait and Martin Bonnet (Sébastien Loeb Racing) in SSV. 19 January 2024. 20 January 2024. autohedbof1.com. AUTOHedbo.
  2. Web site: Profile of Xavier de Soultrait. 20 January 2024. Dakar.com. ASO.
  3. Web site: 5 minutes: Xavier de Soultrait – "I’m happy to be able to race the best bike". 12 August 2020. 20 January 2024. enduro21.com. Enduro21.
  4. Web site: Aussie former champ airlifted to hospital after devastating Dakar Rally crash. 13 January 2021. 20 January 2024. foxsports.com.au. Fox Sports Australia.