Pablo Quintanilla secures Morocco Rally 2021 victory

The Rallye du Maroc concludes with an excellent result for the Monster Energy Honda Team.

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Monster Energy Honda Team has scooped an excellent result in the Rallye du Maroc. After only five months with his new outfit, Chilean rider Pablo Quintanilla clinched his first race victory aboard the Honda CRF450 RALLY. The occasion also marks Quintanilla’s maiden win in Morocco as he gets back to winning ways after the 2019 Atacama Rally. The team tally now lies at three stage wins in Morocco. The last time Honda achieved a win in Morocco was with Paulo Gonçalves in the 2013 edition.

The team’s main aim in participating in this fourth race of the FIM Cross-Country Rally World Championship was to clock up as high mileage as possible. This would help prepare its four riders ahead of Monster Energy Honda Team’s forthcoming participation in the Dakar Rally. The squad was able to confirm that both the high level of the riders and the Honda CRF450 RALLY bike performance continue along the positive trajectory of recent seasons.

The 166-kilometre final special stage went quickly for most of the riders still in contention for victory. David Castera, race director, had designed a stage with very little navigation. With a little movement of wind, the dust hanging in the air accompanied the riders throughout the journey. This made it impossible for riders starting from the rear to make up time.

“I am very happy with the victory. It was a very difficult week and I want to thank the whole team for the great job they did. It was fantastic for us. Personally, I felt very comfortable. I was riding with great pace, with good navigation and that’s very good for my confidence. I am also very motivated for the next objective, which is the Dakar. We are going to take a short break, rest, recharge our batteries. Then we will concentrate on the Dakar,” says Pablo Quintanilla.

The next event to feature Monster Energy Honda Team participation will be at the 2022 Dakar Rally, set to take place in Saudi Arabia from the 1-14th of January.