This episode is presented by the great people at MotoMinded. If you're thinking about converting your dirt bike or dual-sport into a rally racing or lightweight ADV weapon, check out their Rally Moto Kit for a true bolt-on, Dakar-race-proven nav tower/fairing system that is made in the USA. 

Our first pre-race interview of 2022 is with 2021's biggest success story, American Skyler Howes. After two stellar privateer Dakar efforts (fifth overall in 2021), the friendly desert racer finally got the call to suit up for the Factory Husqvarna Rally Team this year. And while it seems like this is where the fireworks fly and the champagne pops for Howes, he's far from celebrating just yet (ok, he did buy a truck to celebrate a bit).

In this candid interview recorded at the Kurt Caselli Foundation's annual Ride Day at Fox Raceway in Pala, California, we  chat with Howes about his relationship with the late, great Caselli and how some pieces of sage advice are still inspiring him today. We also get his take on the newest and future Dakar Rally rule changes, what he's looking forward to (and not looking forward to) about the upcoming race course, how the all-new Husqvarna rally bike is, and, of course, how awesome it is to be a FREAKING FACTORY FREAKING RALLY FREAKING RACER!

Don't miss this show featuring a special pre-interview chat with Quinn Cody about his time with Kurt Caselli, the Kurt Caselli Foundation work he's been a part of, and some of his early memories of young Skyler pulling holeshots in the pro class against 450's on a two-stroke!

Thanks, Cycle News for making this possible!

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Dakar Rally Daily is produced and edited by Jesse Ziegler, and hosted by Quinn Cody and Jesse Ziegler.