Dakar 2019: Paulo Gonçalves subject to emergency surgical intervention just a few weeks before the Dakar Rally

The Portuguese rider Paulo Gonçalves suffered a slow speed crash while participating in the last race of the Portuguese Cross-Country Rally Championship in Reguengos de Monsaraz. Apparently the accident had no other consequence except a small crash of the motorcycle and the pilot. Without feeling hurt and with the his bike undamaged, the Honda rider resumed racing and even finished the race.



But after crossing finish line, Gonçalves felt a little indisposed and went to the hospital in Évora where he had undergone some diagnostic exams. According to the information published in the meantime, a lesion has been detected in the pancreas, so as a precaution the doctors decided to completely remove this organ. The recovery from the procedure should be short, with the main doubt being how will the body of the rider adapt to the new situation of not having the pancreas, specially in an event so demanding like the Dakar Rally.



Honda Team already confirmed the accident and the intervention, without telling exactly what happened.



Paulo Gonçalves entered the race in Reguengos with the objective of training his navigation skills for the upcoming Dakar Rally, where he should start as official rider of Monster Energy Honda Team. Remember that last year Gonçalves was also out of the race just a few weeks before the start also due to a crash where he injured his shoulder.



