Husqvarna FR 450 Dakar Team Rockstar Energy

Bringing together a strong mix of experience and talent the official Husqvarna Factory Racing Rally Team will feature veteran campaigner Ruben Faria (Portugal), two-time Enduro World Champion Pierre-Alexandre Renet (France) and the team’s newest addition Pablo Quintanilla (Chile).

Celebrating 10 years of Dakar competition in 2016, Ruben Faria will utilise his vast experience and aim for a podium result in January while also guiding and advising his younger team-mates. Completing the Morocco Rally in October with a solid fourth overall finish, the Portuguese rally racer has since spent numerous weeks training aboard his FR 450 in preparation for Dakar 2016.

With one stage win and a fourth place overall result from last year’s Dakar, Chile’s Pablo Quintanilla is among the favourites for next year’s rally. After a solid season in the FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship, which saw him fight for the title until the last stage of the final race, Quintanilla will be among the many riders in the hunt for victory.

Pela Renet will line-up at the start of the South American rally for the first time ever, bringing with him impressive credentials from a highly-successful career, and two coveted Enduro 2 World Championships in enduro. The Frenchman is looking to collect valuable experience from his debut Dakar, ahead of a full Cross-Country Rallies World Championship season.

The 2016 Dakar will mark the opening of a new chapter in Husqvarna’s rich motorsport history as the brand steps forward with a new official team into the rally sport world.

Ruben Faria: “We might have a new structure but the goals remain the same. I really want to do a good Dakar and fight for the final podium. The plan is to arrive to the rest day in a good position and attack during the second week. I’m already feeling a lot better physically than last year. We have a strong team this year and I believe we can all help each other produce good results.”

Pablo Quintanilla: “It’s such a great honour to join the official Husqvarna team. Already I have a great relation with the mechanics and my team-mates. Last year I did a really good Dakar so I now want to do even better. It’ll be my fourth Dakar so I’ve got plenty of experience. I feel stronger than ever. I think now it’s time for the hard work to pay off. We’ll have lots of racing in high altitude so we’re all expecting it to be a hard race. I can’t wait to be there.”

Pela Renet: “From the moment I decided to take on rally racing I can’t wait to be at the start of the Dakar. The idea had been on my mind for a few years and I was given a perfect opportunity to do it with Husqvarna. We agreed on a three-year contract so there’s no pressure for my first Dakar. Rally is definitely different than anything else so time is absolutely necessary. We have an amazing atmosphere in the team and I believe that’s going to be great advantage.”