Howes about that! Privateer Skyler Howes was not only Top American at the 2021 Dakar Rally following Stage 3 on Tuesday, he led overall! Today’s stage was long and fast. And although the rider from Salt Lake City didn’t win, Howes is still Top American by a long shot and less than 5 minutes off the leader with one more day before the break.
Fellow American Andrew Short’s Rally was cut short by bad gas and defending champ Ricky Brabec is playing a strategic game of cat and mouse after winning the Prologue and finishing second overall on Stage 2. He dialed it back for Stage 4, “We don’t stand out in the results – that wasn’t the plan. We didn’t want to go out and win. Someone has got to put a stop to the yoyo effect that we’re having with KTM. I sacked up and I went slow today to try and get in with the rhythm of the main group.”
Brabec says the push begins tomorrow. “So far we are looking pretty good. We are starting tomorrow at the back with the KTM guys. Tomorrow, we’ll have a good push and hopefully get back to the front. Right now we are just 16 minutes out of the lead. That’s nothing. It’s one day. Hopefully, tomorrow we can make up some time and go into the rest day in the top three.”
Competitors head out from Riyadh, bound for the new Al Qaisumah camp on Stage 5 tomorrow. There will be a 205-kilometre timed special, out of a total of 456 kilometres, over varied terrain including some sand dune sections, but also rocky ground that could potentially cause punctures.
Howes do you like me now? Watch Dealernews social media for daily updates to see how Skyler Howes’ Cinderella story plays out.
Provisional Results After Stage 4
Pos. Rider Nation Team Time/Gap
1 Xavier De Soultrait FRA HT Husqvarna Rally Team 15:00'25
2 Joan Barreda SPA Monster Energy Honda Team +00:00'15
3 Kevin Benavides ARG Monster Energy Honda Team +00:03'24
4 Ross Branch BWA Monster Energy Yamaha Rally Team +00:04'24
5 Skyler Howes USA BAS DAKAR KTM RACING TEAM +00:04'26
6 Luciano Benavides ARG Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing +00:05'321
7 Sam Sunderland GBR Red Bull KTM Rally Factory Team +00:07'13
8 Toby Price AUS Red Bull KTM Racing Team +00:07'47
9 José Ignacio Cornejo CHI Monster Energy Honda Team +00:08'06
10 Pablo Quintanilla CHI Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing +00:09'31
15 Ricky Brabec USA Monster Energy Honda Team +00:16'21
