Gilles Desheulles, one of the early veterans of the Paris–Dakar Rally, and his wife Michèle died Sunday morning when their ultralight plane crashed. He was 82 years old.

His longtime friend and fellow Dakarian Philippe Vassard confirmed the news on Monday.

“Tonton”, as he was nicknamed, was a Honda factory rider who ran the inaugural Dakar Rally in 1979 but failed to finish on his XLS250. He switched to a KTM 240 GS for 1980, placing 24th overall, before returning to Honda. Retirements in 1981 and 1983 sandwiched his best career run of 13th on an XR550. 1984 saw his final Dakar on a motorcycle as he bowed out on a Husqvarna.

Desheulles switched to driving a Toyota Land Cruiser BJ45 in 1985 and 1986 with Christian Derouard as navigator. His role was mainly in support for Vassard, the 1982 Dakar runner-up who continued to race until 1988. However, he remained involved with Dakar as an analyst for France Télévisions and La Cinq.

His rally experience predated Dakar, having also done the 1976 and 1977 Côte d’Ivoire–Côte d’Azur. Outside of raids, he was a veteran of the French Enduro Championship and also teamed up with Vassard for the Bol d’Or and Tour de France Moto.

An avid pilot since the early ’80s, Desheulles also competed in ultralight air races. He and Michèle eventually settled down with a home by the Petit Bois Landry airfield in Champrond-en-Gâtine.

He celebrated his 82nd birthday in June. Last year, he rode his “Casque d’Or” Honda XL350 in La Route des Légendes to the finish.

“I will always remember that last image of him arriving at the finish in Sète, a big smile on his face and in top form,” Vassard said. “Rest in peace, both of you, gone together to live out your passions.”