Carlos Dad and his life lesson with sand dunes and courts on the horizon: “Living in the chair is absolutely useless”

It’s been nine months Carlos Dad (March 7, 2003, Valencia) suffered a serious accident in Portimao during the European Moto2 Championship. An accident that changed his life in the blink of an eye. Due to serious injuries, the Spaniard was left in a wheelchair. But for him it was not an obstacle to anything, just a new context. Less than a year later he was back in competition teaching self improvement to everyone. The road was not easy but it overcame the abandonment of federations to achieve its goals. His story shocked the entire sports world, not just motorcycling, and during the last edition of Red Bull’s Wings for Life held on May 5, he met MD to check his new life.

First of all, how excited are you, how excited are you…?

“I’m 200%. The truth is that, to be honest, I’m very excited about my new life. It doesn’t seem like it should be like this anymore because of the change in the situation, because now everything is seen from a lower perspective .But the truth is that I’m very happy because I’m getting my life back and I’m very happy to prepare new projects and I’m excited because my life has changed just nine months ago and now to see what I’m doing and that I will compete a year later “I noticed the difference and it makes me feel proud of the whole process to return to competition.”

At what point after the accident did you decide that the new context could be used to put your life back together?

At first it wasn’t easy because all you see is shit, it’s already submerged and you can’t see anything else. In fact, there was a moment where I asked my father if the only thing he could do was completely destroy me. And it was when Albert Llovera arrived at the hospital, he gave a speech, he presented the truck he raced in Dakar and there he grabbed me and told me ‘Carlos, you can’t be like this, it’s’ t shit, a lot you can do it.’ thing, I’ll help you whenever you want, call me when you’re ready.’ I started thinking about everything on my own, I first got into hand biking but it didn’t motivate me and I realized that it wasn’t for me. Then I said to Albert: ‘I want to start, I’m eager, ready for anything.’

I realized that it is a very difficult world because I don’t want to be a rider looking for sponsors just to ride in a saddle, but rather because of the results I have achieved. Albert taught me not to live in the saddle, which is worthless and now I’m working hard to get back into competition. Without putting pressure on myself for results, but as a good athlete I want to perform well. I will try to enjoy Baja Aragón as much as possible and from there launch a project for the Dakar.

How did the project for Baja Aragón come about and what are your expectations for it?

This was also Albert’s idea. I told him I wanted to run it and asked how to do it. He told me that the first thing I had to do was say it in the interviews I had and the first interview I did I said it openly. Then a team called me that was excited, TH Trucks called me and that’s when I went to Burgos, we shape everything and the truth is I’m excited. I’ll be doing some tests before Baja and I’m really looking forward to it

Comment that the Dakar is a goal, is 2025 too early or is it a goal?

Obviously I want to go to 2025 but you have to be smart and you can’t expect to go to a Dakar without having seen a dune before. First thing is the Baja, see how it goes and see how I feel. The next step if all goes well is to plan a test, a race or something in Morocco to touch the desert. I would love to go with Albert so he can explain to me a little bit how he goes through the sands and channel everything a little bit and if I’m lucky I’ll be there in 2025. If not, it’s okay because I’m 21. old

Sponsorship issue, important for events like Dakar, how difficult is it to find support?

It’s being very complicated because now I can only sell a story, I can’t sell a result. I am working hard on marketing using social networks and advertising so this is a plus point to find sponsors. Nowadays in the competition a very important part is the results but the sponsors need something in return and that is visible in social networks, advertising… unfortunately, if you stand on a podium you are not brings benefits for the sponsor. Finding money is never easy.

Exactly on social networks we see your evolution What does your training consist of today?

Right now it’s 100% strength training and lots of time in the car, which gives me the most stomach stability. Right now I need a lot of time behind the wheel to adapt to the controls, to the weight changes that a car has and now I’m putting it first. I’ve always loved beating myself up and now even more so.

We have seen you take steps with a walker, have they indicated to you if there is a limit at any point in your improvement?

I think the limit is very close and what I work the most is the stomach and lumbar, which gives me great stability for absolutely everything. At the moment the movements in my legs are very little and they stabilized a few months ago. And they are only in the pool when there is no gravity. So, I’m not walking, but it’s true that the abdominal work force is improving a lot and that means I still have room to get athletic performance out of my body.

How does the mess of the federations continue (both the Valencians and the Spaniards did not pay enough to compensate for the accident) now that justice is in hand?

All the cases have been filed, the procedures are advanced and I believe in a few months we will have a trial.

How do you deal with a bureaucratic problem of this magnitude, after such a sudden change in life?

Too much incompetence. You can think of my parents… it’s a moment where if you meet any character from the federation you feel like you would do everything to them. The way they left us stranded, being federated, doing things properly was very ‘heavy’. This is a denial of health care. So it is a serious crime and we are working now so that the federations pay the consequences and, above all, if any pilot, we hope not, but if the same thing happens to him, don’t leave him stranded like this.

I am lucky to have people like my lawyer Raúl Castañeda, Angel Gaitán or Nico Abad… but I know of cases where they have been completely abandoned and given little attention. It helped me a lot that someone like Raúl paid for my rehabilitation because I knew I had a problem out there and it was under the jurisdiction of the judiciary. From being a single problem I walked away and only saw the future in sports.

Although motorcycle riding has changed his life, we recently saw him in Jerez during the GP. The bug doesn’t go away…

What goes, what goes. I saw the Sprint Race in the Aprilia box. In the end, I like motorcycles. For example, I’ve never had a car and now I’m looking and I’m excited. I know all the models, before this happened to me with motorcycles and now also with cars. Without realizing it I changed the world and just yesterday when I arrived my boyfriend told me that he knows all BMW, Mercedes or Audi cars…