Dakar Rally Motorcycle Competitor Michal Hernik Dies at Age 39

Michal Hernik, a Polish motorcycle rider competing in the 2015 Dakar Rally, died Tuesday following an incident during the race's third stage. He was 39.

According to an official release, a cause of death is not known at this time. Hernik "did not show any external signs of an accident" when his body was found. Officials began a search for his vehicle when he did not complete the stage, which went from San Juan to Chilecito, Argentina, after an expected period:

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When the race management detected the loss of his Irritrack signal and was informed that he had not completed the special stage at 15:16, it decided to start a search for the rider at 15:23. An ambulance helicopter found the rider 300 meters off the route at 16:03. Unfortunately, the on-board doctor could only confirm the rider's death.

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Hernik was competing in his first Dakar Rally, often described as motorsports' most difficult off-road race. He was ranked 84th in the race at the time of his passing.

This is the second time in as many years the Dakar Rally has lost a driver. In 2014, Eric Palante died during the fifth stage. Two people affiliated with racing magazine Super Rally were also killed during that stage when their car overturned, falling into a ravine, according to the Agence France-Presse (h/t The Sydney Morning Herald).

Hernik is the 10th driver to die at the Dakar Rally in the past decade.

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