Skyler Howes Talks About Leading the Dakar Rally

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Skyler Howes led the Dakar motorcycle overall standings after Stage 3. (WESTx1000/Justin W. Coffey/)

Born in California and now based in Utah, Skyler Howes grew up watching the Dakar Rally on television. He turned pro in 2012 and since then has built up an impressive résumé in off-road racing, posting wins at the Sonora Rally, the Baja Rally, and the Morocco Desert Challenge. He was encouraged to take part in the Dakar by Chris Blais and the late Kurt Caselli, eventually making his debut in 2019 and returning in 2020 with a superb ninth place finish on a standard bike. In 2021 he stole the headlines by leading the overall classification in the bike category on Stage 3 of the 2021 Dakar in Saudi Arabia.

From Stock to Leading the Overall Classification

“Last year I was riding a KTM stock, and compared to the factory bikes there was a disadvantage of 40 kph (25 mph),” the 28-year-old racer confesses. This year he is still on a standard bike except for the suspension that is set up for him.

“Suspension, in my eyes, makes the main difference on this terrain. The results speak for themselves. My best result in 2020 was P9 and this year in the first week of the rally I finished three stages in the top 10 (fourth, seventh, and eighth). I was leading the overall after Stage 3. It was cool, I think it didn’t happen for a long time that a privateer was on the lead.”

Looking at his bike, Howes shows us proudly the components that turned him from an exceptional privateer to a potential factory rider. “There are two main differences between the factory and the replica bike: the motor and the suspension. The factory bike has 52mm factory Cone Valve forks, but you can’t buy these components. The same for the rear shock; that is very specific in terms of tuning. What I have on now is WP suspension set up for me.”

Still classified as a privateer, Howes hopes to secure a factory ride for 2022. It will be hard for the factories to ignore his results. (WESTx1000/Justin W. Coffey/)

After last year’s results, Howes received this upgrade. “Leading the overall classification was a great satisfaction, as a racer, but firstly as a person. Dakar has always been my dream, and I have worked very hard to be here,” the American racer says. “The first huge challenge is to find the budget. The participation cost me $90,000 this year. If you want to do it properly with an assistance team, this is the budget, and I chose the Bas Racing team based in the Netherlands. I really hoped for a factory seat. I tried it all. It was kind of frustrating, but I hope that after this year’s performance, I can aim at a factory bike for the next Dakar.”

A Calm and Focused Mindset Makes the Difference

Last year several professional teams like Bas Racing noticed Howes for his calm and focused mindset. In a race as tough as the Dakar—which can be compared to competing in the Baja 1000 for two weeks in a row—concentration and determination determine your survival or failure. But how can this skill be developed?

Howes developed this mindset from Blais, the last American to score a Dakar podium finish before Ricky Brabec won last year. “Chris Blais was paralyzed and set up a school. He supported my debut. He taught me a lot about remaining calm and thinking about the situation clearly. Racing on a KTM team, I became a good friend of Kurt Caselli. He taught me a lot about making the right decision at the right time, being focused and determined, and not taking unnecessary risks. I owe them a lot. In addition I liked Kurt’s attitude. He was a very friendly person.”

Kurt Caselli’s Lesson

“I was there in Mexico only 13 miles away from where Kurt passed away,” Howes remembers. “It was very tough to lose a friend. It was very painful, but I also learned a precious lesson that I still bring with me. Kurt was an exceptional racer and the best rider I have met. If he had an accident, in a weird and unfortunate way, it proves that even if you are the best at what you do, sometimes things happen. There is a sense of calm about that I took in me. This is another reason why I remain calm in the Dakar, because on a two-week rally there are so many things that can happen and you cannot control. So it’s better to focus on what you can control and solve the problems when they arise.”

There is a saying that no one returns the same from the Dakar. “It’s true. After all the suffering and obstacles you go through on this unique race, once you are back home, it revitalizes your daily life.”

Howes says racing the Dakar will revitalize your daily life. (WESTx1000/Justin W. Coffey/)

From Dakar to Hot-air Balloons

In addition to being a complete racer who is skilled in navigation, mechanics, and riding skills, Howes knows that no mistakes are allowed if you want to win. He learned from his father, a commercial hot-air balloon pilot, that a mistake can cost you your life. Skyler has followed his dad’s path in the sky, and as soon as he returns from the Dakar, he will fly too.

“I already passed all my exams. I only have to do the last written test, and then I will be a commercial hot-air balloon pilot. I enjoy flying in general, and flying a balloon requires a huge amount of mental preparation,” the Californian reveals. “There is a parallel to Dakar: A mistake on the air balloon costs your life. As on the rally, flying an air balloon requires precision, focus, and calm. You cannot steer, you can only go up and down. It’s quite a mental challenge to control the balloon and go where you want. For me it was good training for my mind, and I enjoy it.”

The Road to Dakar

This year the Americans are finally back and they are winning! They are represented in all the categories including the Dakar Classic. There are two factory riders in the bike category with Brabec on the Monster Energy HRC Honda Rally and Andrew Short in the Husqvarna factory team. The SSV category features 18-year-old Seth Quintero, the new kid on the block for the Red Bull Offroad USA Team, who won Stage 6 in his category, and Austin Jones in a Can-Am of the South Racing Monster Team who won the prologue. These are just a few of the American names.

“Chris Blais, Johnny Campbell, and Robbie Gordon opened the road, but I think Ricky Brabec’s and Casey Currie’s wins last year made the Dakar known in America. Now it doesn’t seem so unreachable as it was perceived in the past. I hope more Americans will follow our path next year.”

But Howes says not to underestimate the challenge. “In my first (2019) I maybe underestimated the difficulties and after several issues I had to abandon the race. I broke my neck three and a half months before the 2020 Dakar, so I couldn’t prepare as I wanted. I didn’t let that get in the way of the main goal.”

If there is any advice to give to the newcomers, Howes suggests: “At the end of the day, riding Dakar you have to be smart. You can’t take unnecessary risks. If you’re going to finish 15th one day, that’s fine—you take 15th and just keep plugging away. That’s how you have a really good Dakar. Have good stages and go for wins, but also be smart about it.

Howes credits riding smart and calm to his results in 2020 and 2021. (WESTx1000/Justin W. Coffey/)

“I know it’s not going to happen with my DNF from 2019, but I wanted to have a record like Laia [Sanz], where you finish all 10 of your Dakars. That’s legit. I’ve raced against Ricky Brabec for quite a long time, I used to beat him back around 2013. Racing with someone who ends up becoming the first American to win Dakar, that’s pretty cool. Saudi Arabia actually has very similar terrain to the Western parts of the USA. Where I am in Utah, in St. George, we have big red rocks, slick rock, the same formations, and the sand is very similar. And when you get into the riverbeds and valleys, it’s very similar to Southern California, where Ricky is from, where we both grew up racing. The magnitude of Saudi is huge—the dunes are vast; nothing compares to that. But as far as the dirt and terrain goes, it’s kind of like riding at home.”

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