( CNN ) The 2015 Dakar rally suffered tragedy on only its third day of competition when motorbike rider Michal Hernik was found dead . But mystery surrounds how the 39-year-old Pole lost his life . No damage was found to either his body or bike , said race director Etienne Lavigne . Hernik , who was located just a few hundred meters from the race track , had removed his helmet prior to his death . `` The circumstances surrounding his death have yet to be determined , as the competitor did not show any external signs of an accident , '' said a rally statement . Hernik -- who was competing in his first Dakar -- was found at kilometer 206 on the stage between San Juan and Chilecito , in northern Argentina . Shortly after the rider , wearing bib number 82 , failed to appear at the finish line , organizers tried to find him . The search was complicated by the absence of a signal from his satellite tracker . `` When the race management detected the loss of his Irritrack signal and was informed that he had not completed the special stage at 15:16 , it decided to start a search for the rider at 15:23 , '' said a statement . `` An ambulance helicopter found the rider 300 meters off the route at 16:03 . `` Unfortunately , the on-board doctor could only confirm the rider 's death . '' Hernik 's death means five competitors have died since the rally moved from West Africa to South America in 2009 because of security concerns in the Sahara region . All those five have been competing in the motorbike section . Since the Dakar began on December 26 , 1978 , a total of 24 competitors have died but there have been over 50 fatalities when including the deaths of spectators and officials . Speaking after the stage , the overall leader of the motorbike race -- Joan Barreda Bort -- said it had been a challenging section . `` It was really dangerous because we were on river beds with a lot of stones and broken up tracks all day , '' the Spaniard told reporters . Race organizers said Hernik had previously competed -- and completed -- both the 2013 Morocco Rally and the 2014 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge . `` The whole Dakar family offers its condolences to Michal 's family , close friends and team , '' added the Dakar statement .
Motorbike rider Michal Hernik was found dead by Dakar organizers on Tuesday . Mystery surrounds his death , after both body and bike were found unharmed . Hernik 's loss takes Dakar death tally to 64 since rally began in 1979 .