Motorsport
Australian KTM-rider Caldecott dies at Dakar Rally (1st Update)
By DPA
Jan 9, 2006, 14:57 GMT

Kiffa, Mauretania - Australian motorcycle rider Andy Caldecott died on Monday following a crash in the ninth stage of the Dakar Rally, organisers said. He was 41.

The KTM rider Caldecott, who won the third stage last week and was ranked 10th in the bike standings, crashed 250 kilometres into the 599km stage from Nouakchott to Kiffa on a fast portion.

'We received the news that Andy Caldecott crashed after 250 kilometres. As far as we know he died on the spot,' said rally director Etienne Lavigne.

Caldecott leaves behind wife Tracey and daughter Caitlin.

'To his family that was immediately contacted, the Dakar wishes to express its sincere condolences,' organisers said in a statement.

'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,' the statement said.

Caldecott was competing in his third Dakar and came sixth at the 2005 edition.

He only got a berth for this edition a week ahead of the December 31 start in Lisbon because Jordi Duran of the KTM team had to withdraw due to injury. Caldecott initially didn't have enough funds to compete.

Caldecott is the 46th driver to die at the rally formerly known as Paris-Dakar. Last year KTM riders Juan Manuel Perez of Spain and Fabrizio Meoni of Italy, the bike champion from 2001 and 2002, died at the rally.