Dakar motorcycle 2020: stage 8 canceled in tribute to Paulo Gonçalves

The eighth stage of the Dakar motorcycle 2020 in Saudi Arabia is canceled following the tragic death of Paulo Gonçalves on Sunday in his fall on his Hero. A cancellation decided to respect the pain and meditation of the opponents and friends of the 40-year-old Portuguese pilot…

In consultation with all the riders and the motorcycle and quad teams, the organizers of the Dakar 2020 have decided to suspend the race in tribute to Paulo Gonçalves who died after a violent fall at Km 273 of stage 7. The Portuguese did not stop. is not relieved after his ejection from his Indian motorcycle Hero, which he rode for the first time in the Dakar after five years at Honda.  

• MNC of January 12, 2020 : 
• MNC special file :

"The death of Paulo Gonçalves today during the 7th stage between Riyadh and Wadi Al-Dawasir, caused an immense wave of emotion throughout the Dakar caravan and particularly among all the motorcycle riders of the rally", explains ASO, who therefore decided to cancel the 8 motorcycles and quads stage scheduled for tomorrow Monday.

"An emblematic figure of the Dakar, Paulo enjoyed a great deal of respect from the most experienced among them and from those less experienced for whom he served as an example", continues the organizer, who wishes by this cancellation to allow time from meditation to "pilots who have just lost a friend".

A passionate pilot "with a big heart"

All the participants gathered this bivouac tonight to observe a minute of silence in tribute to the sympathetic Portuguese driver, whose courage was once again illustrated at the start of the rally when he had waited nearly six hours to change the engine of his Hero.

The death of the former Honda rider – second in the Dakar 2015 – has given rise to numerous testimonies in all the world of motorcycle racing, in particular of the reigning MotoGP champion Marc Marquez who salutes the "passion and the big heart" of the Lusitano rider.

Muy sad por el fallecimiento by Paulo en el. Te recordaremos siempre por tu pasión y mejor corazón. Descansa in paz amigo.
Sad for the death of Paulo at the. We’ll remember you for your passion and a great heart. Rest in peace my friend.  

– Marc Márquez (@ marcmarquez93)

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