Dakar Rally to start from Lisbon for first time

The 2006 Dakar Rally will start from Lisbon for the first time next month with motorcycles subjected to new speed limits after two riders died in this year's event. Organisers said 508 teams - 240 motorcycles, 180 cars and 80 trucks - will race from Dec.

The 2006 Dakar Rally will start from Lisbon for the first time next month with motorcycles subjected to new speed limits after two riders died in this year's event.

Organisers said 508 teams - 240 motorcycles, 180 cars and 80 trucks - will race from Dec. 31 to Jan. 15 with stages through Portugal, Spain, Morocco, Mauritania, Mali and Guinea before the finish in Senegal.

A limit of 150kph has been imposed on bikes and trucks to make the event fairer to all competitors and improve safety.

All vehicles will be limited to 50kph in villages.

Two times winner Fabrizio Meoni of Italy and Spanish amateur Jose Manuel Perez were killed this year.

Spain's former world rally champion Carlos Sainz will be one of the newcomers to the Dakar, driving a Volkswagen Touareg. Mitsubishi's French driver Stephane Peterhansel won the car category this year.

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