The driver of 40 years, world champion cross-country rally in 2013 died at the 7th stage of the Dakar, in saudi Arabia.
Portuguese rider Paulo Gonçalves, 40 years, died on Sunday at the 7th stage of the Dakar rally in saudi Arabia after having been the victim of a fall, have announced the organizers. Gonçalves, second edition 2015, and who played his thirteenth Dakar, fell at km 276 of the special.
The driver was unconscious and in cardio-respiratory arrest to the arrival of the medical team commissioned on-site. After attempted resuscitation, he was helicoptered to the hospital, where his death has been found. It is the australian rider Toby Price, taking the title, which was travelling behind Gonçalves and who has found the pilot on the ground, said David Castera, the boss of the Dakar.
“A figure of the rally”
The Portuguese, named the world champion of cross-country rally in 2013, had made her debut at the famous rally in 2006 and had finished four times in the top 10. After having broken his engine in the third stage, it occupied the 46th place in the overall standings after the sixth special stage.
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“Paulo was someone who was there for a long time, that we knew all, that was still a figure of the rally,” said Castera. “So it is very difficult times”. Since the creation of the rally, in 1979, 25 competitors have died, including 20 bikers. The last death of a driver was about the edition 2015 in Argentina.
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“We all know that the motorcycle that is dangerous,” said Castera, when asked about the risk of the bike category. “You leave in the morning, you have the ball in the belly sometimes because it has no protection, nothing. They know all of these drivers-there,” added the director of the Dakar, who has participated five times in the test motorcycle. “It is a professional, who knew well the risks. This sport is a dangerous sport and you know it.”
Gonçalves, driver of the team’s Hero, had been able to take the start of the Dakar this year narrowly after having suffered an accident which caused him a fracture of the spleen in last December. “For me, the start is already a victory”, he said. A tribute to him will be made in the evening, the bivouac, has announced Castera.
The last death of a motorcycle rider on the Dakar back in 2015. The Polish Michal Hernik was killed in the 3rd step, in Argentina. Gonçalves is the 25th contestant to lose the life on the event, and the 20th rider.
