The Dakar Rally plans have to be adjusted several times a day due to the weather conditions in Saudi Arabia. On Friday evening, after the sixth stage, it rained heavily again and again in the bivouac in Riyadh.
It was originally planned that stages seven and eight would be a marathon stage. This no longer applies to motorcycles. The seventh stage will be completely canceled for motorcyclists and quads.
Organizer ASO cites the difficult weather conditions on Friday as the reason for this. After the exertions of the past few days, the motorcyclist camp is very tired. Therefore, the stage between Riyadh and Ad-Dawadimi is canceled.
The motorcycles and quads will still take a neutralized route to Ad-Dawadimi on Saturday to stay overnight.
On Saturday they will then tackle the eighth stage as planned. It includes a loop around Ad-Dawadimi. Then return to Riyadh.
The automobiles, trucks and the Dakar Classic will drive the seventh stage. It is the first part of a short-term planned marathon stage together with stage eight.