PABLO QUINTANILLA IN WITH A FIGHTING CHANCE OF MAKING HISTORY IN PERU.
ROCKSTAR ENERGY HUSQVARNA FACTORY RACING RALLY STAR SECOND OVERALL WITH ONE STAGE TO GO AT DAKAR 2019.
Claiming a solid third place result on the penultimate stage of the Dakar Rally, Pablo Quintanilla is currently placed second overall, one minute and two second behind the provisional leader. With one stage still to be contested in Peru, the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing rider is set to make history by securing Husqvarna’s best result at the prestigious annual rally.
Launching a fierce attack in the dunes of Pisco today, Pablo Quintanilla managed to reduce his gap to the provisional overall leader Toby Price. Determined to battle for overall victory tomorrow, Pablo has his eyes set on improving on his career best third place result aboard the FR 450 Rally machine, earned at the 2016 Dakar Rally.
Remaining calm and focused, Andrew Short has climbed up to an impressive fourth place in the Dakar’s provisional overall standings after today’s stage nine. Claiming a seventh place result for the day, the American racer is looking forward to tomorrow’s final stage.
Wednesday’s stage 10 will take competitors back to Lima. It features a relatively short 112km timed special and has a total distance of 359km.
Pablo Quintanilla: “I’m in a great spot right now to battle for the win and I’m really happy about that. Securing a podium result would be great for me and the team, but honestly my eyes are set on getting the win here in Peru. Today’s stage worked quite well for me. The mass start made it all more interesting. There were some tricky waypoints to make, but overall I felt good and managed to get a good time. Tomorrow I’m determined to give it all for the win. There’s just one minute separating me and Toby [Price] and the day will be long. No matter what happens tomorrow I am very satisfied with my performance at this Dakar. I gave 100% on each day and that’s what matters the most for me.”
Andrew Short: “There’s been a lot of chaos over the last few days. My plan from the beginning of this race was to just focus on my performance and try to be as smooth and consistent as possible. I’m happy to see my strategy is paying off. This fourth place in the overall is simply amazing. The moto start today was great fun for me. After the start, the terrain became a bit tricky and dangerous at some parts. There was a lot of dust and you really had to pay attention on the road book. That was stressful and there was this one waypoint at the end that was super tricky. The fatigue is setting in right now, but nevertheless I am really looking forward to reaching the finish line in Lima tomorrow.”
2019 Dakar Rally – Stage 9 Provisional Classification
1. Michael Metge (Sherco) 03:46:38
2. Daniel Nosiglia (Honda) 03:48:38
3. Pablo Quintanilla (Husqvarna) 03:50:06
4. Matthias Walkner (KTM) 03:50:07
5. Toby Price (KTM) 03:50:07
6. Ignacio Cornejo (Honda) 03:50:08
7. Andrew Short (Husqvarna) 03:50:41
2019 Dakar Rally – Provisional Overall Standings After Stage 9
1. Toby Price (KTM) 32:43:15
2. Pablo Quintanilla (Husqvarna) 32:44:17
3. Matthias Walkner (KTM) 32:49:50
4. Andrew Short (Husqvarna) 33:23:16
5. Xavier de Soultrait (Yamaha) 33:30:59
6. Ignacio Cornejo (Honda) 33:49:00
Text/Bild: Husqvarna