[gwyllion]

Originally posted by raceboy
KTM trekt zich terug

Blijkbaar niet. Na lang twijfel hebben de motards beslist om vanaf morger terug te rijden.

The KTM team-mates of two-time Dakar winner Fabrizio Meoni have elected to continue on the Dakar following the fatal crash of the Italian on Tuesday. "It was not an easy decision," stated a KTM spokesman. Wednesday's Stage 12 has been cancelled for the bikes in tribute to Meoni.

"They hesitated a long time whether or not to [ride]," said the spokesman.

"They wanted to continue, because they thought Fabrizio would have wanted them to, but they weren't sure of being able to ride tomorrow [today]. Their decision was made easier by the organisers' decision to organise an airlift to Bamako."

Earlier on Tuesday, management at the Austrian bike maker issued a statement strongly advising its riders to withdraw from the race, while still leaving the decision up to the riders.

The KTM Blue spokesman added that riders Jean Brucy, Alfie Cox, and Cyril Despres would go through with their promise to pay respects to another fallen team-mate Richard Sainct by putting a blue motorcycle on the final podium in Dakar.

Sainct died early this year on the Rally of the Pharaohs.