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When he’s not operating heavy machinery on the farm, Daniel Ricciardo spends his time away from F1 on two wheels. The eight-time Formula One Grand Prix winner had a disappointing end to his time on the grid after 14 seasons when Scuderia AlphaTauri dismissed him from duties, but he says that chapter of his career is now officially closed. Like many of his contemporaries, including Mark Webber, Ricciardo prefers to spend his time on a motorcycle.
Life on two wheels tends to come back to bite, and Ricciardo recently found himself in hospital after he crashed his motorcycle in the Daintree Rainforest in North Queensland. He is reported to have broken his collarbone, landing him in nearby Mossman Hospital, according to PlanetF1.
While we don’t know further details at this stage, we do know that the Daintree Rainforest is a popular destination for Adventure Bike riders. These dual-sport motorcycles are off-road capable and can be ridden for hundreds of kilometres along dirt roads and tackle more challenging trails with rocky outcrops and obstacles. They’re the Toyota Land Cruiser of motorbikes, and BMW has its grip on the category with the R 1300 GS.
Daniel has previously revealed that he’s a big motorcycle rider, telling rideapart.com that his three-bike garage would include a Ducati, Harley-Davidson, and KTM. “Pretty much, I would go with the Ducati Desmosedici. I’d really like the Harley-Davidson Forty-Eight, but it would have to be customised. You know, get it worked a bit. And then a dirt-bike, probably just a 250cc, 4-stroke. Back in Australia, I have a KTM 250F. I’m not that good on dirt, so a 450 is a bit too much for me. So, I’d have the best of both worlds: sport road, cruising road and a dirt bike.”
Besides his adventure bike escapades, Ricciardo recently headlined Ray White’s Connect conference in mid-August. Sports presenter Mel Mclaughlin asked him about his life after F1, and his answer was blunt as ever.
“I’ve been trying to figure out who I am other than this race car driver,” he said in the interview.
“I’ve come to appreciate the little things more and the meaning of the importance of family and friends.”
“I’ve lived this crazy, high-speed life for so long, and I just sat into a little bit of stillness. I suddenly wasn’t always surrounded by a tonne of people giving their opinions and thoughts,” Ricciardo continued.
“I’ve always been driven, and that sometimes leads you to being selfish, so I’m trying to learn to be a bit more selfless and become a better listener.”
“I haven’t been shaving my face,” he continued. “The beard is my comfort right now.”
“I had a fallout with my barber, and then I lost my razor. It’s been a tough six months.”
It’s a retrospective look that Ricciardo has rarely shared with the world. Usually, he’s the smily face that never seems to take anything too seriously, but he’s come to terms with his future away from the grid, and he looks happier because of it. The F1 world waits to see if fellow Australian Oscar Piastri can deliver the first Australian Formula One World Champion since Alan Jones in 1980.
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