Dakar: Yamaha stage 11 report

Fretigne 11th on a black Dakar day

The 11th day of the Dakar rally was one of deep sadness after the tragic death of Fabrizio Meoni. Meoni died after a crash at km 184.85 of the stage between Atar and Kiffa. At 10.15 David Frétigné (Yamaha WR450F - Yamaha MF Gauloises Ipone) was the first at the place of the crash, and immediately activated his emergency beacon. A helicopter arrived at 10.36 and doctors and the doctors treated the champion for 45 minutes. However, the two-time Dakar winner, aged 47, died of his injuries at 11.11. The Dakar rally has been deeply affected by the death of Fabrizio Meoni.

Riders have expressed the wish not to compete on stage 12 between Kiffa and Bamako, and the rally organization has therefore decided, in accordance with the riders, to cancel the special and to take by airplane the competitors and their bikes to Bamako. Coma won yesterday's stage before Despres en Esteve. Frétigné came home 11th. Dutch privateer Bas Verhoeven (Yamaha WR450F) rode to an excellent seventh. Courageous Belgian Jeroen Ramon still leads the production 1 class on his trusty WR250F. Provisional standings remain unchanged at the top with Depres leading, Coma is second at 14'50, Esteve is third and Frétigné is fifth.

David Frétigné was understandably unavailable for comments after the race, but Jean-Claude Olivier, managing director of Yamaha Motor France and himself a former Dakar rider said: 'At the same time I'm lost for words and shocked, but this is unfortunately the hard reality of racing. Of course my condolences go to the family and friends of Fabrizio. Meoni was a great champion, a charismatic and talented rider who will keep a special place for all who love the Dakar."

-yamaha-