DAKAR 2020

Paulo Gonçalves died after an accident in the Dakar 

The pilot was unconscious in a respiratory arrest and, despite the fact that the medical helicopter only took eight minutes to reach the scene after receiving the alarm, the resuscitation attempts were in vain. He was transported in the helicopter to Layla hospital, where only his death could be corroborated.
Gonçalves was one of the oldest pilots in the race, and by 2020 he had become one of the few to race in the three continents he has gone through: he debuted in 2006 and ran the last two editions in Africa before the change to South America, where he achieved his best results, becoming one of the most solid alternatives to the domain of Marc Coma and Cyril Després.
Known by the nickname 'Speedy' Gonçalves, in 2013 he proclaimed himself world champion of Cross-country rallies, cutting KTM's streak and being the only one so far to have achieved it for Honda. That year he managed to win the rallies two Sertoes in Brazil and the OiLibya of Morocco, being second in three other races to finish five podium finishes in six races.


Paulo Gonçalves in the sixth stage (photo: Hero)

Then he would also win the 2014 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, the year he was world runner-up, and the Argentine Route 40 Challenge last 2018, his fourth and final victory at a rally in the world calendar, where he accumulated a total of 14 podium finishes.
However, his big year in the Dakar came in 2015, when he finished in the second final position only behind Marc Coma and ahead of then debutante Toby Price, giving Honda his best result since 1989. After eleven consecutive appearances, the 2018 was lost to injury and returned last year.
By 2020 he had left Honda to be the star of the Hero brand project in which he has been his 13th participation in the toughest raid in the world, but a motor break in the third stage had caused him to lose seven hours and any choice in the general, where he occupied the 46th position before starting the stage.
From motociclismo.es we wish to send our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the unforgettable Portuguese pilot, as well as to the entire Dakar family.

Nacho González and Autoesporte-Portugal