After a motorbike accident left him paralysed from the chest down, Joey Evans made a decision that would change everything… he would not let his circumstances define his future.
Johannesburg, South Africa (11 February 2026) – On this week’s ‘Good Things with Brent Lindeque‘, we sit down with Joey Evans, a man whose journey reads like something out of a movie, except every hard-earned step, scar and triumph is real.
Joey’s life changed forever after a motorbike accident left him paralysed from the chest down, with doctors telling him that he would never walk again.
Instead of surrendering to the limits placed in front of him, Joey chose to chase a dream he had carried since childhood: competing in the Dakar Rally, widely regarded as the toughest off-road motorsport event on the planet. What followed was a 10-year odyssey filled with physical recovery, emotional battles, setbacks that would break most spirits and a level of determination that is genuinely humbling to witness. Against all expectations, Joey learned to walk again, rebuilt his life piece by piece and ultimately qualified for the Dakar Rally, achieving something most able-bodied riders will only ever dream of.
The story did not end at the starting line, though, and in many ways, the greatest challenge was still waiting. After riding nearly 9,000 kilometres across brutal South American terrain, with exhaustion etched into every kilometre, disaster struck just two days from the finish when Joey’s bike was destroyed by a rally car. Stranded, injured, and seemingly out of the race, that moment could have easily become the closing chapter. Instead, through sheer will, ingenuity, and an unshakable belief in finishing what he started, Joey found a way forward and crossed that finish line, a moment that went on to capture hearts and headlines around the world.
Since that extraordinary achievement, Joey has continued to share his story far beyond the race itself. He has written a best-selling book that delves deeper into the lessons forged along the way, and in 2024, he was inducted into the Professional Speakers Association of Southern Africa Speakers Hall of Fame, recognising not just what he has overcome but the impact his words and lived experience now have on others.
Joey is also one of those rare humans who carries all of this without ego or bravado. He is humble, kind, deeply present, and a really flipping lekker guy to spend time with. I walked away from this conversation inspired, energised, and more convinced than ever that you are going to love this poddie… and quite possibly want to be Joey’s best friend too.
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