Rider death overshadows Dakar Rally

SANTA ROSA DE LA PAMPA, Argentina - The death of Argentinian rider Jorge Martinez Boero overshadowed the first day of the Dakar Rally on Sunday, during which Russia’s Leonid Novitzkiy lead the cars section and Chilean Francisco Lopez the motorbikes.

The 38-year-old Boero, making his second appearance on the gruelling rally, suffered a heart attack after being seriously injured in a fall from his Beta bike two kilometers (1.2 miles) from the end of the stage between Mar del Plata and Santa Rosa de la Pampa in the west of Argentina.

Organizers said that Boero received medical attention within five minutes of the crash and was airlifted by helicopter but died on his way to hospital.

Boero, they said, “was the victim of a fall at kilometer 55 of the special of the first stage between Mar del Plata and Santa Rosa.”

“The rider suffered a cardiac arrest following his fall and was attended five minutes after the accident by the medical staff, who reached the place of the incident by helicopter.

“Despite their best efforts, the doctors were unable to resuscitate the pilot, who died while he was being taken to hospital.

“The organizers of the rally offer their heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones.”

Boero was the son of a former Argentinian racing champion of the same name who died in 2004. His only previous Dakar Rally appearance last year ended when he crashed into a ravine during stage six in Chile and had to wait eight hours before being rescued.

Boero’s death was the 21st of a competitor during a Dakar Rally, organized 29 times in Africa from 1979 before moving to South America in 2009.

In total, 59 people have died during the rally, including more than 20 spectators.

“It’s a real tragedy. He’s a boy that we knew well,” said race director Etienne Lavigne. “There’s a lot of emotion at the camp tonight. It will be tough to start tomorrow. But it’s the biggest tribute we could give him. The competition continues.”

During the day’s racing, Mini got off to a flying start with Novitzkiy clocking 32 minutes 12 seconds over the 57 kilometers special to finish 5 seconds ahead of Poland’s Krzysztof Holowczyc, with France’s former champion Stephane Peterhansel 9 seconds off the pace - both also in Minis.

Defending champion Nasser Al-Attiyah, however, struggled home 9 minutes 50 seconds behind Novitzhiy after his Hummer ran into mechanical problems.

“We will see, but this does not look good. ... Whatever happens, this is not a good way to start the Dakar,” said the Qatari.

AFP