SKYLER HOWES LEADS 2023 DAKAR RALLY AT HALFWAY POINT
HUSQVARNA FACTORY RACING NOW LOOK AHEAD TO FINAL SIX DAYS OF RACING IN SAUDI ARABIA
Husqvarna Manufacturing unit Racing’s Skyler Howes leads the 2023 Dakar Rally on the shut of the primary week of racing. Though occasions on the prime of the leaderboard are shut, Howes has delivered strong, constant performances all through the occasion to this point, which has seen him slowly climb the ranks, proper to the highest. Luciano Benavides has additionally loved a strong first week of racing, overcoming a few small errors early within the race to go on and safe a career-first stage win. The Argentine lies eleventh with six levels left to race.
In what many are calling one of many hardest Dakar Rallies for many years, riders have confronted shut to five,700 kilometres of driving, with nearly 3,000 raced towards the clock over all kinds of terrain. That problem, combined in with technically demanding navigation and horrendous climate circumstances, has made the forty fifth working of the occasion one to recollect.
Stress-free on relaxation day, Husqvarna Manufacturing unit Racing now look forward to week two and the six levels that take the race to the end line in Dammam on January 15. Holding a slender 13-second lead within the total standings, Skyler Howes will probably be seeking to take most benefit of his later begin place for Tuesday’s stage 9 – one other day billed to ship unforgiving terrain and complex navigation.
Becoming a member of Howes within the chase tomorrow, Luciano Benavides may also be trying to make use of the velocity that took him to the stage win on day six to search out his rivals, submit a robust stage outcome, and climb his means up the RallyGP leaderboard. At the moment mendacity eleventh, 24 minutes down on his teammate, the quantity 77 will probably be aiming to cut back that deficit over the subsequent couple of days.
Skyler Howes: “The primary eight days on the Dakar this 12 months have definitely been very difficult. For me, I’d say it’s been one of many tougher Dakars in latest historical past, partly due to the sheer time on the bike and the kilometres we’ve coated, but additionally as a result of these lengthy levels have been held over actually tough and different terrain. To make it to relaxation day is tremendous vital, that’s rule primary for positive. As much as relaxation day we’ve nearly coated the identical distance as the entire of final 12 months, in order that places issues into perspective. I feel the onerous work the workforce have put in all 12 months is obvious right here as we’re main the general, however we nonetheless have a full week of racing left to do. I’m blissful to steer the general however there’s nonetheless a protracted approach to go.”
Luciano Benavides: “It’s been a little bit of an up-and-down first eight days for me. Clearly to take my first stage win felt unimaginable, that was like a dream come true, however then it meant opening stage eight, which has to have been one of many hardest to steer out into. I additionally made a few errors earlier on within the week, which value me a while. I’m proud of how I’m driving, and the bike is performing so effectively, I simply want to remain centered now going into the second week. Hopefully we’ll get much more dunes and tough navigation, in order that the occasions are shaken up just a little and I’ll have a superb likelihood to assault the levels and work my means again up the standings. I do know I’ve the tempo, so I’ll carry on pushing.”
Norbert Stadlbauer – Rally Staff Supervisor: “Our Husqvarna riders had been among the many favourites for the race beginning off. And with Luciano’s stage win and Skyler main the general, they’ve clearly demonstrated they’re within the struggle for the win. The primary week has seen roughly 70 % of the race accomplished, and after Tuesday’s stage 9, the timed specials are far shorter. The workforce are able to assault each and take the struggle for the win to the end.”
2023 Dakar – Provisional General Classification [After Stage 8]
1. Skyler Howes (Husqvarna) 30:34:16
2. Kevin Benavides (KTM) 30:34:29
3. Mason Klein (KTM) 30:34:29
4. Toby Worth (KTM) 30:36:14
5. Pablo Quintanilla (Honda) 30:37:01
6. Adrien Van Beveren (Honda) 30:37:05
…
11. Luciano Benavides (Husqvarna) 30:58:48
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