S. African rider killed in Dakar fourth stage

The death of South African motorcycle rider Elmer Symons overshadowed the fourth day of the Dakar Rally in Morocco yesterday.

While Spain's Carlos Sainz stretched his overall lead in the car category and compatriot Marc Coma took over at the top of the motorcycle standings, earlier events reinforced the rally's deadly reputation.

The race has now claimed 49 lives in its 29-year existence, 24 of them competitors.

KTM rider Symons was killed in a crash on the 405km stage between Rachidia and Ouarzazate won by France's Jean-Louis Schlesser.

He had been taking part in his first Dakar as a competitor, helped by brother Kingsley, after following two previous editions as part of an assistance team.

Symons had been 18th overall in the event which ends in the Senegalese capital on Jan. 21.

The Dakar started in Portugal on Saturday already clouded by safety and security concerns.

Two children were killed by rally vehicles last year and Australian motorcyclist Andy Caldecott died in a separate crash. The year before, motorcyclists Juan Manuel Perez of Spain and Italy's Fabrizio Meoni were killed while competing.