Tragic news coming from Dakar as reports confirm French rider, Pierre Cherpin, has died following a high-speed crash he suffered during the 7th stage of the rally. Cherpin, 52, succumbs to his injuries five days after his accident.

Cherpin’s tragic fall happened 178-kilometers into the stage. The medical team immediately dispatched by helicopter found Pierre unconscious and proceeded to take him to the hospital in Sakaka where it was revealed he had suffered a severe head trauma. Following an urgent neurosurgery, doctors had kept him in an induced coma since then. With his condition having remained stable over the past few days, he was airlifted to Jeddah’s hospital from where he was going to be transferred to Lille’s hospital in France. Unfortunately, Pierre died during his transfer from Jeddah to France by medical plane.

The entrepreneur and sailing enthusiast was participating in his fourth Dakar Rally. His first entry was back in 2009, when the Dakar took place for the first time in South America. He signed up in the “malle moto” category and came back in 2012 still in the same category. He completed the race both times. He came back for a third time in 2015 but he had to give up after an engine failure. Six years later, in 2021, he joined the same category, known now as the “Original by Motul.” On the evening of the 6th stage, he was sitting in 77th position overall.

Driven by the curiosity of discovering a new continent and his passion for adventure, Pierre had stated before the event: “I’m an amateur, I’m not going there to win or to stand on the podium, but to experience an adventure, to discover landscapes that I would never have had the opportunity to see.” 

ADV Pulse would like to extend its sincere condolences to Cherpin’s friends and family.