Argentine media and race officials said Martinez Boero died
on Sunday as he was being transported by helicopter to a hospital in Mar del
Plata.
Details of the crash were not immediately available.
The Dakar Rally began Sunday with racers embarking on the
first leg from the coastal city of Mar del Plata to Santa Rosa, Argentina. The
race, considered one of the most dangerous in motor sports, ends on Jan. 15 in
Lima, Peru.
Meanwhile, Chilean Francisco Lopez won the opening stage of
the motorbike section of the Dakar Rally here on Sunday.
The Aprilia rider timed 32min 37sec over the 57km course
coming in 14sec ahead of defending champion Marc Coma of Spain on a KTM and
27sec in front of Argentinian Javier Pizzolito, riding a Honda.
Coma scored some early points against teammate and principal
rival Frenchman Cyril Despres, who finished 1min 48sec behind the stage winner
in 13th place.
