Motorsport: Spanish biker dies as Peterhansel wins Dakar stage

MADRID - A Spanish motorcyclist who sustained serious stomach injuries after crashing in the Dakar rally last week died in hospital today.

Jose Manuel Perez, who fell during the seventh stage on January 6, had his kidney and spleen removed in a Dakar hospital in Senegal before being transferred back to Spain.

"Finally, he was transferred to Alicante. He was taken to intensive care and there were complications. It appears to have been an infection," a source from the organisers said.

The 41-year-old, who was married with two children, was competing in his fourth Dakar Rally. He is the 10th motorcyclist to die in the history of the gruelling race and the 44th competitor overall.

Defending champion Stephane Peterhansel strengthened his grip on this year's race by winning the 10th, 483km stage around Atar in Mauritania.

The French Mitsubishi car driver beat team mate Luc Alphand, a former World Cup downhill skier, by one minute 27 seconds to increase his overall lead to more than 21min.

The race is due to finish in Dakar on Sunday.

- REUTERS