Some very sad news from the Transoriental

I have been away for a couple of days for work so no posts. Anyway got back this morning and read this. It all sounds terible, I bet it has really effected what is really a pretty small event.



This morning, at 12:09 a.m. local time (8:09 a.m. FT – 6:09 a.m. GMT), at km 120 of special stage n°6 of the Transoriental Rally, between Qaratubak and Torgai, an accident occurred involving French motorcyclist Philippe Tonin, a native of Nyons (on Ktm, Team JNCO-Loctite, number 42) and truck 401 of the Team Kamaz (Vladimir Chagin, Eduard Nikolaev, Sergey Sovostin).

The Transoriental organisation is saddened to report the death of Philippe Tonin, despite the efforts of the medical teams that arrived on site a few minutes after the accident.

The race organisers and all of its competitors are in shock and extend their sincere condolences to the family and friends of Philippe Tonin.

The body has been transported by helicopter from the accident site to Arkalik and by plane to the hospital of Astana in Kazakhstan.

This sad day for the Transoriental Rally has additionally and unfortunately been marked by the announcement of the death of Xu Lang. The Chinese racer was declared dead this morning after the injuries that he sustained yesterday while attempting to extricate another competitor's vehicle. The entire Transoriental organisation extends its sincere condolences to the family and friends of Xu Lang.

17 June 2008

As part of the 2008 Transoriental Rally, a terrible accident occurred yesterday morning in Russia at 7:25 a.m. local time (5:25 a.m. FT - 3:25 a.m. GMT), on the route of the special stage.

The official Chinese driver of the Team Zhengzhou Nissan, Xu Lang, stopped to help another vehicle that had got stuck. The towing cable broke and struck Xu Lang full force in the face.

Assistance was rendered very quickly by the surgeon who had been aboard the immobilized vehicle, and later by the Transoriental's physicians. The medical helicopter arrived 10 minutes after the accident. Suffering from multiple neurological injuries, Xu Lang was transferred to the hospital in Orenburg (Russia) in serious condition.

Well-liked by all, this fine professional racer succumbed to his injuries this morning.

Zhengzhou Nissan and the Team Dessoude, all deeply affected by this tragedy, extend their sincere condolences to his family and friends.