Britain’s Sam Sunderland has been ruled out of Dakar 2020 after a crash on day five saw him airlifted out for medical checks.

Sunderland went down at kilometre 187 on the stage and was flown out by helicopter with injuries to his back and shoulder.

The Red Bull KTM rider was taken for immediate medical checks and is expected to make a full recovery.

“It seems that Sam’s injuries are not too serious, he has broken some vertebrae and his shoulder, but we are hoping he will spend some time in hospital here before flying back to Europe and starting his recovery,” said team boss Jordi Viladoms.