SKYLER HOWES CLAIMS 2023 DAKAR RALLY PODIUM • Whole Motorbike

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 only a few years, the 30-year-old has gone from promising privateer to top-three Dakar racer. His podium at this 12 months’s occasion added to his glorious 2022 season outcomes bode effectively for Howes as he now appears forward to the remainder of the FIM World Rally-Raid Championship season.

With three stage wins at this 12 months’s occasion – probably the most of any rider at this 12 months’s race – 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 experience largely error-free all through the 14-day occasion, the Argentine was rewarded with sixth total to equal his career-best consequence from 2020.

Skyler Howes: “I’m so completely satisfied! 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 fellows behind me can be pushing so laborious right now, 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 (Worth) and Kevin (Benavides). Everybody is aware of what it’s important to undergo to get thus far, and in spite of everything that arduous work, it makes this second really feel so candy. In fact I need to come again and see what the opposite two steps of the rostrum really feel like. However to now be one in all 5 Individuals to succeed in the rostrum at Dakar, it feels superb.”

Luciano Benavides: “I’m actually, actually completely satisfied to succeed in 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 among the best races of my life. Due to my group for all their laborious work, and it’s due to them we completed the race actually strongly. I got here into this 12 months’s rally with out a 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 definitely one of many closest in historical past. Skyler has executed 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 thus far and his podium end is effectively deserved. Luciano, too, has ridden an distinctive race, not solely topping three phases, but in addition displaying unbelievable ability when opening the specials. General, it’s been an incredible group effort by everybody concerned right here on the 2023 Dakar Rally.”

2023 Dakar Rally – Stage 14 Provisional Classification

1. Kevin Benavides (KTM) 1:15:17
2. Daniel Sanders (GASGAS) 1:15:52
3. Toby Worth (KTM) 1:16:12
4. Pablo Quintanilla (Honda) 1:18:32
5. Skyler Howes (Husqvarna) 1:19:02
6. Sebastian Buhler (Hero) 1:19:31
7. Luciano Benavides (Husqvarna) 1:21:04

2023 Dakar – Provisional General Classification [After Stage 14]

1. Kevin Benavides (KTM) 44:27:20
2. Toby Worth (KTM) 44:28:03
3. Skyler Howes (Husqvarna) 44:32:24
4. Pablo Quintanilla (Honda) 44:46:22
5. Adrien Van Beveren (Honda) 44:47:50
6. Luciano Benavides (Husqvarna) 44:50:02