Zed14
10-01-2006, 09:13 AM
rip andy caldecott.
"We learnt of the death of Andy Caldecott at 12:57 CET, who fell at the 250km point of today's stage," says Dakar director Etienne Lavigne. "He died immediately. We knew of the accident at 12:31 CET and the helicopter was with him as 12:55 where he was pronounced dead at 12:57 CET.
"Caldecott was the victim of terrible shock to the upper vertebra," he added. "He was on a very fast track but was riding under the maximum speed allowed.
"We will wait until all the riders finish the stage before telling them of this incident. We will take a decision as a group at this point."
Caldecott is the 23rd competitor to die on the Dakar since its inauguration 28 years ago, and comes after the deaths of Italian Fabrizio Meoni and Spain's Juan Manuel Perez on last year's edition.
Caldecott, who replaced Jordi Duran as Marc Coma's water carrier on this year's event, was competing on only his third Dakar after recolting funds from family and friends to make a dream debut in 2004, winning one stage.
He returned in 2005, winning two stages, and was then faced with the dilemma of not making the 2006 event for a lack of sponsors until Repsol called with proposal of replacing Duran.
"It's difficult to accept," said Repsol KTM boss Jordi Arcarons. "We must work together to help improve the safety of the riders. Now, it is too late. We will speak to the riders to help them to get over this incident.
"I didn't know him very well," he added. "He was a Repsol KTM rider who only had the chance to do the Dakar at the last moment. We can't change destiny. The risk will always exist."
Born in Keith, Australia, Caldecott was widely known in the world of rallies in his home-country. He won the Australian Safari four times in a row (2000-2003), he was declared the third best raid rider of the world in 2003 and finished the 2004 Cross Country World Championship in fourth place
"We learnt of the death of Andy Caldecott at 12:57 CET, who fell at the 250km point of today's stage," says Dakar director Etienne Lavigne. "He died immediately. We knew of the accident at 12:31 CET and the helicopter was with him as 12:55 where he was pronounced dead at 12:57 CET.
"Caldecott was the victim of terrible shock to the upper vertebra," he added. "He was on a very fast track but was riding under the maximum speed allowed.
"We will wait until all the riders finish the stage before telling them of this incident. We will take a decision as a group at this point."
Caldecott is the 23rd competitor to die on the Dakar since its inauguration 28 years ago, and comes after the deaths of Italian Fabrizio Meoni and Spain's Juan Manuel Perez on last year's edition.
Caldecott, who replaced Jordi Duran as Marc Coma's water carrier on this year's event, was competing on only his third Dakar after recolting funds from family and friends to make a dream debut in 2004, winning one stage.
He returned in 2005, winning two stages, and was then faced with the dilemma of not making the 2006 event for a lack of sponsors until Repsol called with proposal of replacing Duran.
"It's difficult to accept," said Repsol KTM boss Jordi Arcarons. "We must work together to help improve the safety of the riders. Now, it is too late. We will speak to the riders to help them to get over this incident.
"I didn't know him very well," he added. "He was a Repsol KTM rider who only had the chance to do the Dakar at the last moment. We can't change destiny. The risk will always exist."
Born in Keith, Australia, Caldecott was widely known in the world of rallies in his home-country. He won the Australian Safari four times in a row (2000-2003), he was declared the third best raid rider of the world in 2003 and finished the 2004 Cross Country World Championship in fourth place