Elmer Symons facts for kids
Elmer Symons (born 14 February 1977 – died 9 January 2007) was a skilled motorcycle racer from South Africa. He specialized in a type of racing called enduro, which involves long-distance races over tough, off-road terrain.
Elmer was born in Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. He started his enduro racing career in 1996. Later, in 2003, he moved to the United States to continue his passion for racing. He did very well in many local races.
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Elmer Symons and the Dakar Rally
Elmer Symons was well-known for his involvement in the famous Dakar Rally. This is a very challenging off-road race that covers thousands of kilometers across different countries.
Early Dakar Rally Participation
Before he raced as a rider, Elmer took part in the Dakar Rally in 2005 and 2006. During these years, he worked as a support mechanic. This meant he helped other riders keep their motorcycles in top condition during the tough race.
Racing as a Rider
In 2007, Elmer Symons decided to compete in the Dakar Rally as a rider for the first time. He was riding his own private KTM motorcycle. This was a big step for him, showing his dedication to the sport.
A Tragic Accident
Sadly, during the fourth stage of the 2007 Dakar Rally, Elmer had an accident. He crashed in a rural area of Morocco. The accident happened about 142 kilometers into the stage. Emergency help arrived very quickly, within eight minutes of his emergency beacon going off. However, they were unable to save him, and he died at the scene.
At the time of the accident, Elmer was doing very well in the race. He was in 18th place overall among all motorcycles. He was also leading in the "Marathon class," which is a special category for riders who use less support during the race. Elmer Symons was the 49th person to die during the Dakar Rally's history.
See also
In Spanish: Elmer Symons para niños
