6 hours in the past | Phrases: Andy Wigan | Pictures: Husqvarna Bikes
After main this yr’s Dakar Rally for six levels, flamboyant American, Skyler Howes, has completed a super-impressive third place; a outcome that vindicates the Husqvarna Manufacturing unit Racing crew’s resolution to signal the promising privateer again in 2021.
Right here’s the PR from the Husky crew, reflecting on their 2023 Dakar Rally marketing campaign…
Coming into Sunday’s 14th and ultimate stage of the 2023 Dakar Rally, Husqvarna Manufacturing unit Racing’s Skyler Howes trailed the chief by only one minute and 31 seconds – an extremely slim margin after effectively over 43 hours of racing. Because the third-to-last competitor to set off into the particular, Skyler had a cushty benefit over the fourth-placed rider and knew, with the 2 frontrunners combating it out behind him, a clean, calculated trip to the end was all that was wanted to safe his podium outcome.
Finishing the ultimate stage as fifth quickest, Howes was overjoyed together with his total results of third place on what’s his fifth Dakar Rally look. In just some years, the 30-year-old has gone from promising privateer to top-three Dakar racer. His podium at this yr’s occasion added to his wonderful 2022 season outcomes and bodes effectively for Howes as he now seems forward to the remainder of the FIM World Rally-Raid Championship season.
With three stage wins at this yr’s occasion – probably the most of any rider at this yr’s race – Howes’ teammate, Luciano Benavides, loved a extremely constructive and extremely rewarding time on the Dakar. By combining his ability in opening specials with exact navigation and the power to trip largely error-free all through the 14-day occasion, the Argentine was rewarded with sixth total to equal his career-best outcome from 2020.
Skyler Howes: “I’m so joyful! It’s been an unbelievable race with highs and lows, and it’s come proper all the way down to the wire on this ultimate day. I knew the blokes behind me could be pushing so laborious in the present day, and to enter this ultimate day lower than two minutes behind after effectively over 40 hours of racing is unbelievable. I arrived on the end safely, and it looks like a dream come true and such an honour to share it with two legends like Toby [Price] and Kevin [Benavides]. Everybody is aware of what you must undergo to get up to now, and in any case that onerous work, it makes this second really feel so candy. After all, I need to come again and see what the opposite two steps of the rostrum really feel like. However to now be one in every of 5 People to achieve the rostrum at Dakar, it feels superb.”
Luciano Benavides: “I’m actually, actually joyful to achieve the end line. It’s been a loopy, powerful, and extremely rewarding Dakar and I’m simply over the moon to be right here safely after what must be probably the greatest races of my life. Due to my crew for all their laborious work, and it’s due to them we completed the race actually strongly. I got here into this yr’s rally with no Dakar stage win, and now I’ve three. It’s actually given me motivation for the long run and I’m trying ahead to the season forward much more now.”
Norbert Stadlbauer – Rally Group Supervisor: “It’s been an unbelievable Dakar Rally for Husqvarna Manufacturing unit Racing, particularly because the occasion will go down in historical past as one of many hardest and positively one of many closest in historical past. Skyler has finished an incredible job, mastering the tough terrain of the primary week to guide the race for a number of days. He has labored so laborious to get up to now and his podium end is effectively deserved. Luciano, too, has ridden an distinctive race, not solely topping three levels, but in addition displaying unbelievable ability when opening the specials. General, it’s been an incredible crew effort by everybody concerned right here on the 2023 Dakar Rally.”
PROVISIONAL RESULTS – 2023 DAKAR RALLY, STAGE 14
- Kevin Benavides (KTM) 1:15:17
- Daniel Sanders (GASGAS) 1:15:52
- Toby Value (KTM) 1:16:12
- Pablo Quintanilla (Honda) 1:18:32
- Skyler Howes (Husqvarna) 1:19:02
- Sebastian Buhler (Hero) 1:19:31
- Luciano Benavides (Husqvarna) 1:21:04
PROVISIONAL FINAL STANDINGS – 2023 DAKAR RALLY
- Kevin Benavides (KTM) 44:27:20
- Toby Value (KTM) 44:28:03
- Skyler Howes (Husqvarna) 44:32:24
- Pablo Quintanilla (Honda) 44:46:22
- Adrien Van Beveren (Honda) 44:47:50
- Luciano Benavides (Husqvarna) 44:50:02
