Race officials confirmed on Monday that Spanish motorbike rider Carles Falcón had passed away following injuries he received in a mishap more than a week ago while riding in the Dakar Rally. He was forty-five.
In a statement posted on X, formerly Twitter, the Dakar Rally organizers said, “We learned of the passing of Spanish rider Carles Falcon from his family with great sadness.”
“The Dakar Rally organizers and competitors offer their most sincere condolences to his family and friends,” the statement continued.
Falcón fell on the second stage of the renowned race in Saudi Arabia at a distance of 448 kilometers (278.37 miles), and he was flown to a hospital for emergency medical attention.
“Carles has left us,” his Twin Trail Racing team posted on Instagram on Monday. The brain damage brought on by the cardiorespiratory attack at the time of the accident is permanent, the medical team has confirmed.
Twin Trail reported that the Spaniard was “unconscious and without a pulse” after the collision, but that medical personnel had managed to revive him.
Race organizers said that Falcón was returned to Spain after being airlifted to a hospital in Al Duwadimi and then transferred to a hospital in Riyadh.
Falcón, who was raised “surrounded by motorbikes” after being born in Tarragona, Spain, according to the rider’s Twin Trail web biography. In 2022, he had already finished the Dakar Rally.
Twin Trail said on its Instagram post, “Carles was a happy person, always active, who loved with a passion everything that he did, especially on motorbikes.”
“He left us to pursue his dream of competing in the Dakar.” He was content and having fun while riding his bike. He should live on in our memories for his grin and the joy he brought to others.
In his own time, Falcón guided tours and taught motorcycles in addition to his job as an IT engineer.
Twin Trail remarked, “Many have learned by his side.”
He instilled a love of motorbikes in everyone by teaching with patience, enthusiasm, and delight. All of us who have been close to him—family, friends, teammates, and fans—will always hold this within us as a part of him.
“We kindly request that you respect the privacy of the farewell events that will be held in the coming days on behalf of his family and the team.”
One of the toughest and longest endurance races in the world, the Dakar Rally this year goes 7,891 kilometers (more than 4,900 miles) from AlUla to Yanbu, Saudi Arabia, and ends on January 19.
