French motorcyclist found dead at Dakar rally

French motorcyclist Pascal Terry was found dead on the route of the Dakar rally, organisers said yesterday. Terry, 49, had been missing since Sunday's second stage.

"We are saddened to learn that Pascal Terry was found dead in the night from Jan. 6 to 7 at 02.10 a.m.," organisers said in a statement.

"He was in a place very hard to access in the middle of heavy bushes, some 15 metres from his bike. He had his helmet off and had found some shadow."

Organisers said the local police would open an investigation into the circumstances of Terry's death.

In 2007, two motorcyclists died while competing on the Dakar rally in Africa: Elmer Symons of South Africa and France's Eric Abijoux.

The 30th edition of the rally is being held in Argentina and Chile instead of Africa because of security concerns in Mauritania which forced the cancellation of last year's event.

The race, which started in Buenos Aires last week, has already left British driver Paul Green and his navigator Matthew Harrison in serious condition in hospital after their car overturned during Saturday's first stage.