Dakar news

[Pistol Pete]

Another one of those wee reminders that the sports we all love can be cruel and unforgiving.

Crash.net said:

The Dakar Rally, already under a dark cloud following the death of José Manuel Perez on Monday, has been rocked by the news that two-time event winner Fabrizio Meoni has been killed in an accident on stage eleven of the event. Meoni, who had been second overall in the motorbike standings behind Cyril Despres, was involved in a serious accident just after CP1 (184km) of today's [Tuesday] stage from Atar to Kiffa at 10.36 [GMT].

From:
www.crash.net/uk/en/news_view.asp?cid=26&nid=104119

Thoughts are with the families/friends of both riders

[LancsDriver]

Despres was riding with him, whom was a father of the motorbike ferternity on the Dakar, a great loss to the rally raid scene.
Seems still a bit sketchy on how he did die, news says it was heart failure but after watching Eurosports coverage Alfie Cox whom came to his aid said he knew he was dead after seeing all the blood.......tragic

Thoughts are with his loved ones.

[heebeegeetee]

Shocking news. The Eurosport coverage was very moving tonight.

Not been a good Dakar, this year, from the competition aspect. Still an awesome event to watch though, absolutely makes January each year, for me.

What a shocking, terrible loss, though.

[EmmaP]

This is very sad news indeed, for the sport and above all else, the families that these two men leave behind.

[Eric Mc]

Saw it on Eurosport last night.

I started watching Paris-Dakar a few years ago when I first got Eurosport, mainly for the cars, but over the years it's the bike men who I have learned to appreciate most.

They are true road warriors in the spirit of the great road racers of the early 20th century. Hopefully, despite tese sad events, the spectacle of the Dakar will continue.

[docevi1]

My mate is from Egypt and he knows a fair bit about the Dakar, indeed he and his brother have been support for one of the winning riders a few years back.

Apparently Fabrizio Meoni was a good friend of his brothers and they actually knew each other

Crying shame