Turkish Dakar legend Kemal Merkit was fatally injured on the 3rd day of the TransAnatolia Rally in Turkey around 08h30 yesterday morning, while helping his Italian friend.
It seems the two riders in front were riding slowly next to each other checking each other's road books on a straight road that was producing a lot of dust. It was also after a long downhill.
An 18 yr old competitor riding behind them, Wouter Vaarkamp, rode into the dust thinking there was no-one there, only to slam into the two riders at great speed, hitting Kemal full-on from the back. It seems both were killed instantly by head injuries, and the Italian rider escaped with minor injuries and some damage to his bike. The rally was cancelled after the incident.
Kemal has been competing in the Dakar for the past 10 years in the unassisted "malle moto" class, and is very well know for his very friendly and helpful disposition to everyone who knew him. He was the ultimate Dakar hard man, and someone I admired tremendously.
Wouter was being accompanied by his parents who were competing in the cars section of the rally.
This is a very sad day for rally, condolences to family and friends. Kemal, we will miss you big time. :'( :'(
More tributes and detail on the incident here.
It seems the two riders in front were riding slowly next to each other checking each other's road books on a straight road that was producing a lot of dust. It was also after a long downhill.
An 18 yr old competitor riding behind them, Wouter Vaarkamp, rode into the dust thinking there was no-one there, only to slam into the two riders at great speed, hitting Kemal full-on from the back. It seems both were killed instantly by head injuries, and the Italian rider escaped with minor injuries and some damage to his bike. The rally was cancelled after the incident.
Kemal has been competing in the Dakar for the past 10 years in the unassisted "malle moto" class, and is very well know for his very friendly and helpful disposition to everyone who knew him. He was the ultimate Dakar hard man, and someone I admired tremendously.
Wouter was being accompanied by his parents who were competing in the cars section of the rally.
This is a very sad day for rally, condolences to family and friends. Kemal, we will miss you big time. :'( :'(
More tributes and detail on the incident here.
