The Dakar Rally claims the lives of two of it's riders.
On January 9, 2006, Australian Andy Caldecott, riding for the factory KTM team in place of the injured Spaniard Jordi Duran, dies instantly after crashing halfway thru the Ninth Stage, 250km (155.34 miles) into the 599 km (372.9 mile) Special Stage from Nouakchott to Kiffa.
Caldecott was born in Keith, South Australia. A long-time veteran of motorcycle endurance competition, Andy won the Australian Safari Rally four times consecutively (2000–2003) and was a competitor in the Dakar Rally in 2004 (DNF), 2005 (6th), and 2006.
The following year, South African Elmer Symons is killed after crashing his privateer KTM at 142 km (88.23 miles) into the fourth stage in his first attempt to complete the Rally as a rider. The emergency helicopter was with him within 8 minutes of his emergency alert beacon triggering, but, sadly, was unable to do anything other than record his death. He was in 18th place for motorcycles overall, and leading the Marathon class after the previous stage.
Originally from Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, he began enduro racing in 1996 and moved to the U.S. in 2003. Elmer had success in numerous regional competitions and was making his debut in the Dakar Rally after previously participating in the 2005 and 2006 Rally as a support mechanic.
