An experienced Belgian motorbike rider has died competing in this year's Dakar Rally, organisers announced today.
Eric Palante, 50, riding for the Honda team, died in yesterday's fifth stage between Chilecito and Tucuman in Argentina.
Palante, in his 11th Dakar, was the third person associated with the gruelling race to die yesterday after two members of an Argentine news team perished when their car plunged into a ravine.
Dakar organisers ASO issued a statement reporting that a technical support truck had discovered Palante's lifeless body at 0830 local time today at the 143 kilometre mark of the stage.
"No alarm was made to the organisers. Eric had been supplied with water during the afternoon," the statement continued, adding that the fatality would be investigated by a local judge.
Palante is the 23rd competitor in 36 editions to die in the Dakar Rally.
