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Rabat — Portuguese motorcycle rider Jorge Brandao died on October 17, following a crash during the fifth stage of the Rallye du Maroc, the International Motorcycling Federation (FIM) announced.
Brandao, who was 47 years old, fell in the dunes at the 214-kilometer mark of the stage during his second time competing in the event.
Medical crews treated him at the scene before airlifting him to a hospital in the city of Erfoud.
The rider succumbed to injuries and died at 1:55 p.m., according to the New York Post.
The FIM offered its condolences to Brandao’s family and friends.
In their press release, FIM said, “On behalf of the FIM Family, the Rallye du Maroc, and the World Rally-Raid Championship, we extend our deepest condolences to Jorge’s family and his many friends; he will be missed by the entire FIM family.”
A seasoned competitor in enduro and cross-country rallies around the world, Brandao had announced his plans to race in the 2026 Dakar Rally, scheduled to run from January 3 to 17 in Saudi Arabia.
Earlier this year, he won the veterans’ circuit and finished ninth overall in the 2025 Baja Aragon rally.
That victory held special meaning for Brandao, who had suffered a serious injury during the same race years earlier that nearly ended his career.
The Rallye du Maroc, a rally-raid event organized since 2000, began on October 10 and concluded on October 17.
Over the rally’s period, riders had to cover 2,298 km of the Moroccan desert between Fez and Erfoud, including 1,477 km of timed stages.
The action kicked off on October 12 with a short prologue, followed by five stages of racing between October 13-17.
