2nd bike rider dies in Dakar Rally

UPDATE French motorbike rider Eric Aubijoux was probably the victim of a crash and not a heart attack, organizers of the Dakar Rally have suggested. The 42-year-old died near the end of the 14th stage between Tambacounda and Dakar in Senegal on Saturday. A race spokesman initially said the death was caused by heart failure but it is now thought he died in a crash. "New elements make us think that Eric was a crash victim," race organizer Gilbert Ysern told Sud Ouest newspaper. "The first medical examinations revealed fractures and the local police have already gathered some evidence backing the premise of an accident."

01/20/07 French motorbike rider Eric Aubijoux became the second fatality in this year's Dakar Rally. The 42-year-old died near the end of the 14th stage between Tambacounda and Dakar in Senegal on Saturday.

A race spokesman said Aubijoux died of heart failure after appearing to faint during the 576km penultimate leg.

"At 15km from the end, he came to a stop after feeling unwell. He then had a seizure and was not able to be revived," said a statement.

"He was a motorcross fanatic who was participating in his sixth Dakar rally in which he had finished in 16th place in 2001."