Quote Originally Posted by focus206 View Post
Is there something different this year compared to the usual Dakar? I've read about the speed limit, but did something change in the navigation too, that is causing these complaints?
AFAIK Since last year they get the roadbook only before the start so that they can't prepare beforehand or have someone checking the route with hellicopter. That was a huge advantage of the works and big teams over the privateers which they don't have now (still they have better machinery and service of course). Last year year's edition was however relatively easy so nobody complained that much.

Regarding speed limit - it was introduced for cars (all have max. top speed 180 km/h). That limit isn't slowing 4WD much but affects big RWD buggies significatnly because the speed they could keep over long straights was their main advantage (thanks to the large diameter wheels and long suspension travel).

New 160 km/h speed limit for bikes was planned but in the end it wasn't introduced. Per our TV the works bikers set top speed around 175 km/h while privateers usually don't reach more than 165-170 km/h.