The Amaury Sport Organisation and the governments of Argentina and Chile agreed to a return to South America for the event in February 2009.

[1][2] Cyril Despres, riding a KTM, won the motorcycle class for the third time, winning two stages en route to victory by over an hour from any of his rivals.

Second place went to another KTM rider, as Pål Anders Ullevålseter finished on the Dakar podium for the first time in his career, taking a stage win on the penultimate day.

The Patronellis took six stage wins, with the other eight shared by the Polaris duo of Hubert Deltrieu, and Christophe Declerck (3), as well as the Yamahas of Sebastian Halpern (2), González Corominas and Rafal Sonik.

362 Teams competed in the race with 176 motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles, 134 cars, and 52 trucks on the podium across from the Obelisk, on the 9th of July Avenue; one of Buenos Aires' major boulevards.