A Bike racer died today

[ChuckH]

Australian Dakar Rally competitor Andy Caldecott, 41, died today as a result of a crash in the 28th edition of the Dakar Rally.

Caldecott, who was running 10th overall after winning stage five in Morocco, crashed in a high-speed section of today's stage. A helicopter was sent to the scene of the accident, but doctors found that Caldecott was already dead, according to Dakar organizer

[racinteach]

oh that really is bad news to hear...My condolences to his family

[RacrDude]

"He was on the track after the dunes and - even more tragic - not far away from the point where Fabrizio Meoni died last year."

"It's tragic because Repsol asked him to ride the Dakar as a replacement for Jordi Duran," he added. "It was only just a week before the start, but everybody knew it was his best Christmas present, because the Dakar was his dream."

The incident has effectively brought KTM's Dakar to an end, and with Isidre Esteve Pujol also crashing heavily on the same stage, Marc Coma was the odds on favourite for victory anyway. The question now, however, is whether or not to continue.

"We have decided to leave it up to the teams and riders what they want to do," Kinigadner said. "For sure for KTM the Dakar is over now. We will not follow it anymore from a sporting point of view."


GodSpeed Andy!!!

[Ramsey_ElWardani]

Sorry to hear that, he is the rider who won and helped Andy Grider to get second in Stage Three.

From Stage Three KTM report:

"If the leader of the race is now Gauloises KTM Team member Cyril Despres, the protagonists of today’ stage were the two “Andys”, Caldecott and Grider, In fact Andy Caldecott won the stage, and the Andy Grider was second. Both the Australian and the American are very satisfied: “To many rocks and stones everywhere, then many changes of direction“, said the Australian just after the finish line, “It was not a walk, but I am used to be fast when the track is fast, and I like very much large open spaces”.

For Andy Grider the first African stage of the rally was also the first African stage or his career: “Everything was new for me.” Asserts the debutant of the Red Bull KTM Team. “Our Manager Joe Barker has trained us in many tests in the American deserts, but this land is completely different. Every time you learn something and You can feel more and more confident. I enjoyed the stage, and all was under control. I started fast this morning. Rapidly the landscape changed. Suddenly I felt completely alone in the middle of the desert. But I also felt comfortable and I open the gas. In a few minutes I noticed far over there a cloud of dust. I forced and then I reached Andy (Caldecott). We drove together until the end of the special test, and there we discovered we were the first and the second of the rank."

[plantman]

MY condolences to his family. A great Man and a LEGEND on a bike.
That LEGEND will never die

[Vtr_Racing]

The Dakar Rally is brutal. Its a shame, once again, to have to read the tragic news. My sympathies and prayers go out his family and friends.
On another note, we heard about Griders crash while we were at the Parker race last weekend. The details were sketchy but we hear that he was out and Chris Blais was still going strong. It has now been reported that Grider has a broken Pelvis. Can anyone confirm this?

[FlyHiFlyLo7]

The Dakar Rally is brutal. Its a shame, once again, to have to read the tragic news. My sympathies and prayers go out his family and friends.
On another note, we heard about Griders crash while we were at the Parker race last weekend. The details were sketchy but we hear that he was out and Chris Blais was still going strong. It has now been reported that Grider has a broken Pelvis. Can anyone confirm this?

They reverted back to only road books and limited speeds. Maybe they should have just limited speeds this year so the guys can stay up on the pipe and not be distracted so much. The odds of getting killed are so high it seems. These guys on the bikes and their families are truly offering up everything to run this race.

[obr184]

Andy was a really fierce competitor in the Finke Desert Race and any other event he entered. This is very very sad news, and our prayers go out to his family and friends....

[Marshall]

The Dakar Rally is brutal. Its a shame, once again, to have to read the tragic news. My sympathies and prayers go out his family and friends.
On another note, we heard about Griders crash while we were at the Parker race last weekend. The details were sketchy but we hear that he was out and Chris Blais was still going strong. It has now been reported that Grider has a broken Pelvis. Can anyone confirm this?
According to Griderracing.com nothing was broken.

[roach]

THAT SUCKS! man, that is just sad to hear. especially two years in a row. as far as grider goes, sounds like there are different stories, one website lists him as out with a broken femur and hello'd out. grider.com reporting nothing broken?? either way, that is not so cool news.

[bufeo]

THAT SUCKS! man, that is just sad to hear. especially two years in a row. as far as grider goes, sounds like there are different stories, one website lists him as out with a broken femur and hello'd out. grider.com reporting nothing broken?? either way, that is not so cool news.

I'm not sure what web site you're referring to about the broken femur, but that's incorrect. I spoke with Andy this a.m. He has a huge hematoma but no broken bones.

Allen Russell (Andy Grider's father-in-law)

NOTE:
This will be my last post for a while. My wife and I leave for Cape Town, South Africa, tomorrow. I'll try to find an internet hookup so I can get updates, otherwise I'll be like the rest of the world and see it on OLN or read about it in the papers. This Forum has been great for keeping up with the news and for "learning". Thanks all.

[Vtr_Racing]

Boy, thats great news. Nothing broken........ Have a safe trip Allen and thanks for clarifying......