Dakar: Statement on death of Caldecott

Per the Dakar.com website, the following statment was posted at 15:03, African time, on Monday, January 9, 2006.

Death of Andy Caldecott

The organisers of the 28th edition of the Dakar have learnt today, Monday the 9th of January 2006, the death of KTM rider n10 Andy Caldecott.

At km 250 of stage 9 between Nouakchott and Kiffa, on a fast portion, the Australian biker suffered a bad crash. and died.

Aware of the accident at 11:31AM, the rally headquarters immediately sent a medical helicopter that landed at 11:55 AM on the scene of the accident. The doctors unfortunately could only note the death of the biker that according to them struck immediately.

Andy Caldecott, 41 years of age, was competing in his third Dakar. He had finished 6th of the 2005 edition and was currently 10th overall of this edition after having won stage 5 between Nador and Er-Rachidia in Morocco.

To his family that was immediately contacted, the Dakar wishes to express its sincere condolences.

Note: At 22:36, the following statement was released on tomorrow's schedule stagte 10.

No special for the bikers tomorrow

The stage planned on January the 10th between Kiffa and Kayes will be covered in liaison from start to finish for the bike race.

Indeed, the organisers, the teams, the bikers and the bike race officials that gathered together after the day's stage have decided to neutralise stage 10 as a tribute to Andy Caldecott who passed away today during the special that was covered between Nouakchott and Kiffa.

The stage will however take place normally for the cars and trucks.

-dakar.com-