Pablo Quintanilla and the Husqvarna Factory Racing team have parted ways with immediate effect. Quintanilla leaves after five seasons with the team, racing both the FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship and the grueling Dakar Rally. 

The news comes not long after Dakar champ Kevin Benavides’ move from Honda to KTM. Husqvarna has not given specific details regarding the reason for the split and there is no official word at this time as to where the Chilean is heading to. However, it is speculated that Pablo might join Big Red. Husqvarna’s Racing Team Manager says: “It’s never easy to part company with a rider that has been such an important part of our team for so many years, but in motorsport this happens.”

Signing with Husqvarna Motorcycles prior to the 2016 Dakar Rally, Pablo immediately made his mark by claiming a stage win on his way to third overall. Later that year, the Chilean rider went on to top the FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship, clinching podium results in all four rounds.

Forced to retire from the 2017 Dakar, Pablo made up for his disappointment by successfully defending his world title, including a win at the challenging Atacama Rally on home soil – a race he has won no fewer than four times.

Runner-up in the world championship in 2018, Quintanilla went on to narrowly miss the podium at the 2019 Dakar by just seven minutes following over 42 hours of racing through the deserts of South America. With the remainder of his 2019 season plagued with injury, the 34-year-old came back fighting at the 2020 Dakar, claiming a runner-up finish – both his and Husqvarna Motorcycles’ best result at the tough event.

Photos: Rally Zone | Rockstar Husqvarna