MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Dakar rally in Argentina claims motorcyclist life

French motorcyclist Pascal Terry has been found dead after being reported missing on Sunday during the second stage of the Dakar Rally which was relocated to Argentina and Chile for its 31st edition.

The 49-year-old had informed race control on Sunday that his Yamaha had run out of petrol at the 197-kilometre mark between Santa Rosa and Puerto Madryn but later could not be contacted by organisers. A search was launched the next day, and his body was found by local police early on Wednesday morning. "The motorcyclist was found in an area that is very inaccessible with very dense vegetation 15 metres from his bike," said a statement from race officials. "He had taken off his helmet and had taken shelter with food and water next to him." Meanwhile, British driver Paul Green's condition has improved following the serious accident in the first stage on Saturday. Green suffered severe chest injuries in the crash, and his co-driver Matthew Harrison was also badly hurt. Former world rally champion Spain's Carlos Sainz is leading the competition going into the fifth day of the 14th stage event with Marc Coma topping the standings in the motorbike section. The rally started in Buenos Aires on January 3 and finishes back in the Argentine capital on January 17. It is being staged in South America for the first time after terrorism threats caused last year's event, traditionally finishing in the Senegalese capital of Dakar, to be called off. Terry is victim number 54 of one of the world's most grueling rallies since it was first launched in 1979.