Last night he was killed riding for KTM in the Paris Dakar Rally, doing what he had always loved, pushing himself and his machine to its limit.
Andy was 41 years old, and left a young daughter, and pregnant wife.
He was a true gentleman, and absolute champion.
Rest in Peace mate.
From todays Advertiser:
Dakar crash kills SA rider
10jan06
SOUTH Australian motorcyclist Andy Caldecott was killed last night in a crash during the ninth stage of the Dakar Rally.
Caldecott, 41, of Keith, fell from his machine 250km into the 599km stage between the Mauritanian capital Nouakchott and Kiffa.
A specialist in the desert and four-time winner of the Australian Safari from 2000 to 2003, Caldecott was married with one child. He won the third stage of the rally from Nador to Er Rachidia in Morocco last Monday.
"We learned at 11.57 GMT (11.27 SA time) of the death of Andy Caldecott who fell after 250km," race director Etienne Lavigne said.
"He probably died instantly. We learned of the accident at 11.31. Obviously his family have been informed."
Caldecott becomes the 23rd competitor to die in the Dakar Rally since it started 28 years ago. Caldecott started the stage in 10th position overall and more than two hours behind the leader.
He was among more than 140 motorcyclists penalised yesterday for missing time control points on the eighth stage on Friday.
Sunday was a rest day. The motorcross rider secured a spot on Spanish-based Repsol KTM's roster after an injury to Jordi Duran.
A lack of sponsorship funding meant Caldecott thought he would not be racing this year.
However, when interviewed by The Advertiser last month he was upbeat.
"With a minimal amount of training preparation leading into last year's Dakar, I was able to win two stages and finish 6th outright," Caldecott said. "I am obviously rusty in terms of riding going into this year's event, and I am concerned about my fitness. However, I feel comfortable and confident being back on the bike and it's likely my adrenaline will help me to succeed."
The 16-day, seven-country, 9043km endurance race, includes vast expanses of the Sahara Desert and has more than 37 nationalities entered.
Event organisers have reported record entries for 240 motorcycles, 188 cars and 80 trucks.
It was Caldecott's third Dakar stage victory – he took out two stages in Smara, in the Western Sahara, and Kayes in Mali last year, when he finished sixth outright in the event.
