Husqvarna Signs Dakar Privateer Skyler Howes to the Factory Team
The U.S. journeyman put it all on the line to earn a spot as a factory rider.
After racing Dakar three times as a privateer, Skyler Howes has achieved his dream of earning a spot as a factory rider. The Utah resident has signed a three-year contract with Husqvarna, and will start competing on Husky machinery as early as next month. The news comes right on the heels of Pablo Quintanilla’s sudden exit from the factory team.
Skyler delivered impressive performances in both the 2020 and 2021 Dakar races, finishing inside the top 10 as the leading privateer. Most notably, he managed to secure an impressive fifth overall at this year’s Dakar Rally — a race he was only able to make after selling all his possessions. That’s right, the 29-year-old put it all on the line, and gave up everything he had to get to the start of the big stage. “I am so excited to have signed for the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team – it is something I have worked hard my whole life for. I have only been racing rally for the past three years, and in order to be able to compete in the Dakar this year I had to sell everything I owned,” says Skyler
Born in California, Howes grew up competing offroad, specifically desert racing, before turning his hand to rally in 2018. Contesting the Dakar Rally for the first time in 2019, the American admits he underestimated the iconic event, and despite showing great pace on the tough terrain he was forced to retire after dislocating his shoulder. “I raced the Dakar for the first time in 2019, in Peru, and I have to be honest, it was a huge wake-up call. In 2020, I was able to sort a ride and, despite losing some time through the event, I was able to finish inside the top-10 and as top privateer. For this year it was a struggle financially to get to the start, but I knew I was capable of a really good result – I finished fifth, and as top privateer once again. Thankfully, my result got the attention of the factory teams and now it’s a dream come true to sign for Husqvarna Motorcycles.”
Now, looking ahead to the 2021 season, Howes will first compete at the Sonora Rally in May and a number of other local North American races before focusing on the full FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship. Although he has some experience racing world championship events having previously competed in Morocco, Skyler plans on using the 2021 season to build his pace and experience on the varied terrain he’ll experience at each of the six championship races, while getting up to speed on his FR 450 Rally machine.
Howes and the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing team’s first FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship outing will be the Rally Kazakhstan on June 7-13.
Congrats Skyler! Well-deserved.
Photos: Husqvarna Racing
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