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Motorcycle Community Mourns the Loss of Paulo Goncalves | News

The motorcycling community is mourning the loss of rally racing legend Paulo Gonçalves who tragically passed away during Stage 7 of the Dakar Rally.

The Hero MotoSports rider passed away from a fall sustained 276 kilometres into the Stage 7 special. The organisers received an alert at 10:08 and dispatched a medical helicopter that reached the biker at 10:16 and found him unconscious after going into cardiac arrest. Following resuscitation efforts in situ, the competitor was taken by helicopter to Layla Hospital, where he was sadly pronounced dead.

40-year-old Paulo Gonçalves was taking part in his 13th Dakar. He made his debut in 2006 and had finished four times in the top 10, including an impressive performance as runner-up to Marc Coma in 2015. Paulo Gonçalves, the 2013 cross-country rallies world champion, was sitting in 46th place overall after stage 6 of the 2020 Dakar.

Hero MotoSports released the following statement;

Hero MotoSports Team Rally is profoundly grieved to report that its Portuguese rider, Paulo Goncalves passed away this morning during the 7th stage of the Dakar Rally 2020. Paulo, aged 40, passed away from a fall sustained 276 kilometers into today’s special. The organizers received an alert at 10:08 and dispatched a medical helicopter that reached the biker at 10:16 and found him unconscious after going into cardiac arrest. Following resuscitation efforts in situ, the competitor was taken by helicopter to Layla Hospital, where he was sadly pronounced dead.

He has had an illustrious journey in the rally-racing world, including a series of remarkable performances at the world’s most prestigious rallies. He was crowned 2013 FIM Cross Country Rally World Champion. He also held the runners-up position at the Dakar Rally in 2015.

Mr. Wolfgang Fischer, Head – Hero MotoSports Team Rally said, ‘Words cannot describe our shock and loss at this moment. It isn’t just a team, it is a family for us and we are devastated with the passing away of one of our members, Paulo Goncalves. He joined the Team in April last year and within no time became an integral part of the Hero MotoSports Team family. He will be dearly missed and always be fondly remembered by us. Paulo was a true champion, gentleman, reliable friend to everyone in the racing world and a role model as sportsman and personality. We extend our deepest condolences to his family and friends.’

Red Bull KTM Rider Toby Price was the first one the scene.

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Worst day for the rally sport, Rest and ride in peace @goncalvesspeedy you will be missed by many! Thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends! This one hurts and is tough to swallow.

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Speechless and having a hard time understanding this. @goncalvesspeedy was an amazing person and great racer. My thoughts and prayers are with his family. Today is a day I won’t forget.

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A very hard day! The worst stage in my life! I still can’t believe it. He was one of the best in the bivouac. A true example and a real Dakar racer. All the world loved you Paulo! Lots of love to his family and friends. – Qué día más duro! La peor etapa de mi vida! Todavía no me lo puedo creer. Uno de los mejores del vivac. Un ejemplo y un dakariano auténtico. Todo el mundo te quería Paulo! Un abrazo a la familia y amigos. – Quin dia més dur! La pitjor etapa de la meva vida! Encara no m’ho puc creure. Un dels millors del bivac. Un exemple i un dakarià autèntic. Tothom t’estimava Paulo! Una abraçada a la família i amics.

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Portuguese biker Paulo Gonçalves passed away. The entire Dakar caravan would like to extend its sincere condolences to his friends and family. ⠀ Décès du pilote portugais Paulo Gonçalves. À sa famille, à ses proches, toute la caravane du Dakar présente ses condoléances attristées. توفي السائق البرتغالي باولو غونسالفيس. عائلة داكار تتوجّه بأحر التعازي لعائلته ومحبيه Fallecimiento del piloto portugués Paulo Gonçalves. Toda la caravana del Dakar quiere presentarle a su familia, amigos y allegados su más sentido pésame. ⠀ + info: https://www.dakar.com⠀ ⠀ #Dakar2020 ‎#داكار2020

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Our friend and former Team HRC rider (2013-2019) Paulo Gonçalves passed away today during the 7th stage of Dakar Rally 2020. The Monster Energy Honda Team would like to extend its sincere condolences to his family and friends. Rest in peace, Paulo. We’ll never forget you! 🙏🏼💫

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Paulo I was lucky to get to know you in the purest way possible by sharing our passion together for racing our bikes and pushing our limits and fighting to beat each other, what a warrior you proved to be in all senses on the bike yet the most humble kind hearted man off of it, a tear in my eye to write this message thinking of those you have left behind, Until we meet again my friend! 🤝 RIP.

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Speedy, thank you for the memorable laughs, times, jokes, and most of all your friendship. On this day from here on out, millions of us will never forget…. duuude. Prayers from ALL of us to your family and children 🙏🏼❤️#resteasyspeedy #legend

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