SKYLER HOWES AND LUCIANO BENAVIDES COMPLETE SHAKEDOWN AND
ADMIN CHECKS AHEAD OF 14-STAGE EVENT
MATTIGHOFEN, AUSTRIA – December 30, 2022 – (Motor Sports activities NewsWire) – Husqvarna Manufacturing unit Racing’s Skyler Howes and Luciano Benavides are excited to get their 2023 Dakar Rally campaigns underway. Following their stellar 2022 season, each FR 450 Rally riders are motivated and assured forward of the beginning of the opening spherical of the 2023 FIM World Rally-Raid Championship, held in Saudi Arabia.
Coming into the 2023 Dakar Rally, Skyler Howes has proven unbelievable tempo over the previous 12 months, together with a win on the powerful Rallye du Maroc – Howes’ first world championship victory. The velocity and outcomes are due partially to the exhausting work put in by the entire workforce in growing the most recent 2023 mannequin FR 450 Rally.
Feeling match and higher ready than ever to tackle the gruelling 8,500 kilometres of the 2023 Dakar, the American is totally centered on delivering his greatest ever efficiency on the iconic occasion. With 14 full phases to cowl and over 4,700 kilometres raced towards the clock, Howes feels the lengthy nature of the rally, in addition to the elevated worth positioned on correct navigation, ought to go well with his abilities and elegance.
Having additionally loved a stand-out 2022 season through which he claimed podium leads to Morocco and Andalucia, Luciano Benavides is on prime kind and hungry for achievement on the Dakar. The 2022 occasion didn’t go as deliberate for the Argentinian as he suffered from the identical first day navigational concern that caught out most of the entrance runners. Nevertheless, rapidly regrouping and preventing again up the order gave Benavides the boldness he wanted to assault the rest of the season.
Discovering the adjustments and improvement made to the FR 450 Rally completely suited to his using model, Luciano feels snug to push exhausting over all diverse terrain whereas additionally having the ability to give attention to his navigation – one thing that might show key over the course the lengthy, upcoming race. With added rule adjustments that reward riders who open phases coming into impact in 2023, technique and the power to learn the terrain, and the street e book, will probably be extra essential than ever.
The 2023 Dakar Rally begins with a brief 11-kilometre prologue on December 31 to resolve the beginning order for stage one. The occasion then covers 14 full days of racing with riders masking a complete distance of 8,549 kilometres, 4,706 of which will probably be timed particular phases raced towards the clock. The rally involves an in depth on Sunday, January 15 in Dammam.
Skyler Howes: “I’m actually wanting ahead to starting the 2023 Dakar Rally journey that awaits us. I’m tremendous excited to get began truly, this 12 months I really feel much more relaxed than at earlier Dakars, and that’s nice for my confidence. After all, there may be nonetheless lots of using and racing that faces us over the subsequent two weeks or so, and it’s positively going to be a tricky Dakar. However it’s these longer, tougher occasions that appear to go well with my using and my mindset. There are going to be lots of adjustments this 12 months with new the principles and which means totally different methods, however I believe it’s good. It’s all the time difficult once they usher in these rule adjustments, however we’re all in the identical boat right here and we’ll need to determine it out as greatest we will. On the finish of the day, all I can do is my greatest, and that’s what I plan to do – have a cool, enjoyable time racing my Husqvarna by Saudi Arabia.”
Luciano Benavides: “We’re nearly prepared for the beginning of the race now. I’ve ready greater than ever for the 2023 race, and I’m in a very good place to provide the occasion my very best. It’s going to be a very lengthy race this 12 months – the longest for round eight years – it means it’s going to be a very powerful Dakar, particularly the second week by the dunes of the Empty Quarter. Mentally and bodily I’m feeling good, and my tempo has been actually aggressive over the course of 2022. I really really feel I’ve an excellent shot at securing a prime end result, I simply want to stay centered every day and never make any errors as I believe they are going to have a huge effect this 12 months.”
Obtain pictures from the 2023 Dakar Rally right here.
Husqvarna Bikes.
Husqvarna Bikes is extensively recognized for main innovation and offering distinctive efficiency throughout its avenue and offroad merchandise, in addition to being current in all top-level racing disciplines. With the model initially based in Sweden in 1903, Husqvarna Bikes’ machines have been designed and manufactured in Mattighofen, Austria since 2013.
Supply: Husqvarna Bikes GmbH
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