Post by DazListic on Jan 9, 2006 19:19:19 GMT
Today there seems to be no good news,
Dakar Rally competitors are mourning the death of biker Andy Caldecott after a destructive day on the Mauritanian sands.
Caldecott was killed instantly by a blow to the head in a heavy accident 155 miles into stage nine, a 372-mile journey across Mauritania's treacherous desert from Nouakchott to Kiffa.
The 41-year-old Australian, who finished sixth last year and was running 10th overall, was quickly attended to by medical helicopters but pronounced dead soon after.
Caldecott had retired from riding last year, having failed to raise sufficient funds. But he was given a surprise Dakar Rally chance by KTM just before Christmas, as replacement for Jordi Duran.
Caldecott crashed close to the spot where two-time winner Fabrizio Meoni was killed last year, also riding a KTM.
The Austrian manufacturer responded to Caldecott's death by washing their hands of the Dakar Rally for the remaining six stages and offering their teams the chance to pull out.
"We have decided to leave it up to the teams and riders what they want to do," KTM's sporting director Heinz Kinigadner told Eurosport.
"For KTM the Dakar is over now. We will not follow it anymore from a sporting point of view."
Another rider, Isidre Esteve Pujol, suffered two serious crashes and was eventually airlifted to the event medical centre.
Pujol had been second overall but his challenge is over for this year, although organisers claimed his injuries were not life-threatening.
Andy leaves wife Tracy and daugter Caitlin.
Our thoughts are with them at this terrible time.
Dakar Rally competitors are mourning the death of biker Andy Caldecott after a destructive day on the Mauritanian sands.
Caldecott was killed instantly by a blow to the head in a heavy accident 155 miles into stage nine, a 372-mile journey across Mauritania's treacherous desert from Nouakchott to Kiffa.
The 41-year-old Australian, who finished sixth last year and was running 10th overall, was quickly attended to by medical helicopters but pronounced dead soon after.
Caldecott had retired from riding last year, having failed to raise sufficient funds. But he was given a surprise Dakar Rally chance by KTM just before Christmas, as replacement for Jordi Duran.
Caldecott crashed close to the spot where two-time winner Fabrizio Meoni was killed last year, also riding a KTM.
The Austrian manufacturer responded to Caldecott's death by washing their hands of the Dakar Rally for the remaining six stages and offering their teams the chance to pull out.
"We have decided to leave it up to the teams and riders what they want to do," KTM's sporting director Heinz Kinigadner told Eurosport.
"For KTM the Dakar is over now. We will not follow it anymore from a sporting point of view."
Another rider, Isidre Esteve Pujol, suffered two serious crashes and was eventually airlifted to the event medical centre.
Pujol had been second overall but his challenge is over for this year, although organisers claimed his injuries were not life-threatening.
Andy leaves wife Tracy and daugter Caitlin.
Our thoughts are with them at this terrible time.