Pablo Quintanilla is one of the reference riders in off-road racing, but he has never gone beyond second place in the Dakar. In January, the Monster Energy Honda rider will have a new opportunity to go for the win in Saudi Arabia.
Pleased with his performance in this year’s Dakar edition, the Chilean admitted to the event’s website that there were factors beyond his control that kept him from fighting for the ultimate goal of victory: ‘I drove well overall in the last Dakar and gave 100 percent, which allowed me to compete at the front of the general classification with a solid pace throughout the rally. However, in a rally like the Dakar, there are always factors or situations that you cannot control, which prevented us from fighting for the win, which is always the goal and what we prepare for throughout the year‘.
Despite the season also being challenging, Quintanilla stressed that it served to learn and gain experience: ‘I had a tough time in different rounds of the W2RC. Mechanical problems were an issue. We know that races are like that, but the most important thing was to learn as much as possible and gain experience and knowledge before the tremendous challenge of Dakar 2024’.
Just a few weeks before Dakar, the South American rider showed optimism about his level of preparation: ‘I felt very comfortable on the new bike in Morocco. I was able to ride at the pace I wanted. The rally suited me very well. I felt fast and strong with the navigation and speed I showed. This was a confidence boost and a good omen for Dakar 2024. Now, with the pre-Dakar tests, we will arrive better prepared and with a better understanding of the new bike. Dakar is always a complicated and tough event. There are several factors that influence performance during the stages. I am confident that I can fight at the front and always with the desire and hunger to win’.
