Bike death darkens Dakar Rally

JEAN-LOUIS SCHLESSER finally broke the Volkswagen stranglehold on the 2007 Dakar Rally after winning stage four of the endurance event, but the result was overshadowed by the death of a competitor in the motorbike category.

South Africa’s Elmer Symons, 29, a debutant at the annual race, was killed following an accident 142km into the 405km special stage between Er Rachidia and Ouarzazate.

The KTM rider was the first competitor to die in this year’s race. One competitor and two children were killed last year.