Spaniard dies after Dakar crash

Spanish biker Jose Manuel Perez has died following injuries sustained on this year’s Dakar Rally.

The 41-year-old crashed his KTM out of 45th position last Thursday and operated on for serious abdominal injuries in Zouerat in Western Sahara. He was then transferred to Dakar in Senegal before returning to Spain.

However, he was unable to recover from his injuries in an Alicante hospital and died today.

In the motorcycle category today, Cyril Despres took the overall lead with a win on stage 10 around the city of Atar in Mauritania.

He now leads Fabrizio Meoni by nine minutes 20 seconds after pipping the Italian to stage honours today.

Marc Coma remains third overall after finishing stage 10 down in fifth place while Isidre Esteve has moved up a spot to fourth, knocking Alfie Cox down to fifth.