+++ News Flash +++
- Dakar: Reuters reports on northern route
- Addax + Qatar: Dates overlap, Qatar entry deadline on 14 October
- Sandalion: 39 entries in register, final entry day not verified
- Albania Raid: According to the programme, today is departure day in Tirana
- Riyadh: Lufthansa Group suspends flights up to and including 16 October
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Dakar: Reuters report on the northern route
Reuters reports on 8 October a planned northern route with fewer bivouacs, citing three people involved in the W2RC. The report contains no confirmation from the organiser. The plan published in May provided for start and finish in King Abdullah Economic City and 5,320 kilometres of special stages. That concept included one night in the Refuge bivouac and a further marathon stage. ASO had announced 1–15 January 2027 as the event dates; the May presentation does not confirm any later route change.
Addax and Qatar Baja fall in the same week
The Addax Rally is scheduled for 25–30 October in Merzouga, with headquarters and service park at the Nasser Palace Hotel. The motorcycle programme comprises Race 1 for bikes up to and including 450 cubic centimetres, Race 2 above 450 cubic centimetres, Race 3 for twin-cylinder bikes and maxi trail bikes, and an e-bike class. Malles Moto is planned within Race 1 Elite without mechanical assistance. The Qatar International Baja, the fifth round of the FIM Bajas World Cup, follows on 28–31 October, overlapping in time. QMMF gives 14 October as the final entry deadline; the deadline for reduced fees already expired on 30 September.
Sandalion: 39 entries, entry deadline unclear
The official rider register still lists 39 entries on 10 October. The organiser’s programme names the Olbia Arena as the base and an event period of 12–17 October. It provides for 1,190 kilometres in total and 594 kilometres of selective sections, plus the show stage “Luna Nera”. The marathon stage is scheduled for 15 October. A specific final entry day could not be confirmed in the organiser information reviewed. Nor can a number of remaining places be derived from the register.
Albania Raid: departure after six scheduled riding days
According to the organiser’s programme, today is departure day from Tirana at the Albania Raid. The six riding days from 4–9 October were planned via Berat and Përmet. New for 2026 are three route variants: A, also suitable for large enduro bikes, B with more technical passages, and X with hard enduro sections. Navigation is exclusively by GPS; the organisation loads tracks and waypoints onto participants’ devices.
Riyadh: flight suspensions with different deadlines
The Lufthansa Group has suspended its Riyadh flights up to and including 16 October, according to Reuters of 8 October. AP gave 9 October as the end of the suspension for IndiGo, and 10 October for Air India and Akasa Air. The cause was security concerns following reported attacks. The differing deadlines do not prove a uniform halt to all air traffic to Riyadh. These reports do not confirm whether IndiGo has since resumed its services. Effects on motorcycle shipping, Dakar travel in January or other motorsport events are likewise not demonstrated.