Portuguese motorcyclist Jorge Brandao died Friday after an accident during the Morocco Rally, the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme announced in a release.
Brandao, whom The Sun reported to be 47, crashed in the dunes at Kilometre 214 during Stage 5 of his second time competing in the race, per the release.
The event medical team attended to him and then transferred him via flight to a hospital in Erfoud, where he later died from the injuries he suffered.
He died at 1:55 p.m., according to The Sun.
The release said Brandao was a veteran rider who had experience competing in enduro and cross-country rallies across the world.
“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,” the release said.
Brandao’s Instagram page features photos of him competing in various events, and he recently announced he would be competing in the 2026 Dakar Rally from Jan. 3-17 in Saudi Arabia.
He won the Veterans circuit and finished ninth overall in the Baja Aragon 2025 earlier this year, a triumph that held extra significance to him.
“This victory has a special flavor. A few years ago, I suffered a serious injury here that almost ended my career,” he told bianchiprata.com in July.
“Today, to come back and win in the Veterans is a huge personal achievement and a source of pride for me and the team.”
He captioned an Instagram post from the event, which featured him on a bike while holding his hands in triumph: “The race that hurt you years ago, has now given you this victory 👏👏👏👏 congratulations 🙌.”
The Morocco Rally is a rally-raid event — meaning different types of vehicles can be used — that has existed since 2000.
It began Oct. 10. and ends on Friday.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
