Three people have been killed in just one day of the Dakar Rally, organisers announced on Friday.
Motorbike rider and experienced Dakar competitor, Eric Palante, died during the fifth stage of the rally between Chilecito and Tucuman in Argentina on Thursday, the ASO said.
Eric Palante was competing on his 11th Dakar Rally
In a statement , the ASO said Palante's body had been discovered by a technical support truck on Friday morning, 143kms into the stage. It has not been revealed how he died.
The death of the 50-year-old who was competing in his 11th Dakar, follows two other fatalities on the same stage.
Agustin Ignacio Mina, 19, and Daniel Eduardo Ambrosio, 51, who were following the rally, were killed when their vehicle overturned in rough terrain.
Argentine police said Mina was covering the rally for a motor racing magazine while Ambrosio was a motor sport fan.
Palante is the 23rd competitor to die on the Dakar which has run since 1978.