Pablo Quintanilla is one of the reference riders in off-road, but in the Dakar he has never gone beyond second place. In January, the Monster Energy Honda man will have a new opportunity to attack victory in Saudi Arabia.
Pleased with his performance in this year’s edition of the Dakar, 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 fight at the front of the overall classification with a solid pace throughout the rally. However, in a rally like the Dakar, there are always factors or situations that you can’t control, which prevented us from fighting for victory, which is always the goal and what we prepare for throughout the year‘.
Despite the challenging season, Quintanilla stressed that it served to learn and gain experience: ‘I had a difficult season in different rounds of the W2RC. Mechanical problems were an issue. We know that races are like this, but the most important thing was to learn as much as possible and gain experience and knowledge before the tremendous challenge of the 2024 Dakar‘.
A few weeks before the Dakar, the South American rider expressed 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. That was a confidence boost and a good omen for the 2024 Dakar. Now, with the pre-Dakar tests, we will arrive better prepared and with a better understanding of the new bike. The 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‘.
