TRAGEDY: Motorcyclist dies after Dakar Rally crash

Spanish motorcyclist Carles Falcon has died from the serious injuries he suffered last week on the second stage of the Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia, his team said on Monday.

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“On Monday, January 15, Carles passed away. The medical team has confirmed that the neurological damage caused by the cardio-respiratory arrest at the time of the accident is irreversible,” the TwinTrail Racing Team said in a statement.

“Carles was a smiley person, always active, who enjoyed with passion everything he did, especially motorcycles. He left us doing something that was his dream, racing the Dakar,” it added.

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The high-speed stage over jagged rocks and winding sand dunes in the Saudi desert was almost complete on January 7 when the experienced off-road rider from Tarragona crashed.

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The 45-year-old was immediately  taken to hospital in Saudi Arabia in a medical helicopter, and later flown back to Spain where he had been in intensive care.

Dakar Rally is 8 000km long

Twin Trail Racing said at the time that Falcon, a computer engineer by training, had suffered a fracture of his vertebrae.

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The Dakar Rally is one of the world’s longest and most demanding endurance races and this year’s 8 000km long 12-stage marathon ends at the Red Sea on January 19.

By Garrin Lambley © Agence France-Presse