SKYLER HOWES JOURNEY TO DAKAR

SKYLER HOWES

Journey to Dakar

Story By: LaChelle Halliday Photos By: Justin Coffey and Rally Zone

Utah is an unbelievable sight to many with its vast open red rock deserts and snowcapped Rockies, that many tend to overlook the overflowing talent stemming from a small conservative state. Nestled into the red rock of St. George, Skyler Howes, an everyday boy next door, continues to show the world his impeccable perseverance and passion to fulfill his dream of racing.

Starting off at only 3 years old, Skyler and his family would race one or two races a year throughout his childhood until he was 12, when he began competing in his first full racing season on a 65cc bike. Unfortunately, the following year his father developed cancer, putting a firm hold on his racing dreams. However, Mr. Howes did beat cancer later on. No matter how hard he tried, the dirt had ultimately caught Skyler, intoxicating him with its alluring essence. A few short teenage years later, this 16-year-old obtained his first job at a local swimming pool with hopes of paying for his own dirt bike to begin the racing hunt again. After working tremendously through high school, to graduation, Skyler took on another job working 14-hour days to fund his own racing as an adult.

With every setback, Skyler has pushed forward knocking down each wall that attempts to stop his journey forward as he continuously reigns in as a champion.

2008, Skyler won a 125 Championship. Fast forward to 2012, he took home a 250 Pro National Championship, topped podiums during the Baja 500 and 1000 and even competed in the ISDE in Slovakia. However, Baja truly captured Skyler as his love of rally raid racing was born in the heart of Mexico. His return to Dakar in 2020 was troublous as he was severely unprepared, but his perseverance and ease of his own expectations paid off as he was able to tackle his adversities and pull off a 9th overall finish. He also would be credited as the only privateer in the top 10 finishers, while also winning the Amateur category and the Super Production classes. Taking a top ten finish would introduce Skyler to a multitude of potential sponsors and factory team conversations. Sadly, once returning home, the contacts became unresponsive leaving him scrambling after losing his main financial sponsor for the following year due to crashing in Dakar himself.

In 2018, he finally had his shot at his first Sonora Rally, and to everyone’s surprise including his own, he won the rally. Winning the Sonora Rally granted him a ticket to the 2019 Dakar in Peru. Unfortunately, succumbing to dislocated shoulder he was forced to retire on stage 6 and return home after his lack of experience and falling ill with the flu had already set him back amongst competitors.

Pushing forward Skyler began racking in experience as he won the Morocco Desert Challenge in Africa, and the Best in The Desert Open Pro Championship leading as one of the only riders in history to ride solo at every event, win each race and win the championship. Nothing could deter him from his craving to race until a rally in Greece almost stopped Skyler from possibly ever riding a motorcycle again. After an emergency double fusion in September, and mandatory recovery time of 12 weeks caused him to only have one full week of actual practice on the bike before flying to Saudi Arabia.

Feeling ultimately defeated along with the onset of a worldwide pandemic, most would have succumbed to the inevitable. Skyler refuses to house “quit” in his own personal vocabulary, therefore he began to breakdown the numbers. It wasn’t until September of 2020 when Dakar was confirmed to orchestrate in Saudi Arabia for the 2021 year, but funding was due by December. This only allocated a slim 3 months to gain the $100,000 needed to facilitate one Without an injury but overwhelming stress from entry and accommodations to the legendary fundraising his own way to this vast sandbox beast of a race. halfway around the world, his overall mentality was the exact same as his prior year. He Knowingly, finding one sponsor to facilitate reminded himself realistically he wasn’t heading his journey would be pitting himself against into the race at 100%, however he would ride a wall, he began to spread out the necessary the best he could and to enjoy the time riding funds across a multitude of resources. Making the race he worked gruesomely hard to come to. 50% off sold bags of coffee in New York, BAS Trucks out of Holland, and adding support He was a part of the Bas Dakar KTM team, from Rebellion Time, he initiated the SH on a rented bike that he had no prior training Squad. With donations to the SH Squad, Skyler on but overall felt exponentially comfortable ensured each donor received a package of being back in Saudi Arabia. The first two days t-shirts, stickers, a poster and the donors first of Dakar were smooth sailing for Skyler as he and last name on his bike he would be racing. occupied the top 10 in standings. Day 3 Skyler From fundraising, merchandise, teaching riding was leading the stage as he continued on his lessons, his full-time job at a local machine quest through the desert. He continued trudging shop and gaining sponsorships he would still through stage after stage for 12 consecutive be sitting nearly $40,000 short. In his final days to finally stand a top the podium finish moments, he chose to sell off his motorcycle, securing him into 5th place. Skyler is only and gear that wasn’t needed for Dakar other beginning his historic journey into rally racing than a mountain bike to make the cut off in the while the rest of us on the hunt for our official nick of time. SH Squad gear!

Future Stars Shine Bright Moto 4 Kids Racing

Story By: John Simanovich Photos By: Will Embree

Anew Amateur Motocross series has recently emerged in Southern California, Moto 4 Kids Racing. The series has been designed to celebrate the future stars of the sport, the kids, giving youths their own time to shine. Moto 4 Kids stands firm with their come one, come all model by providing a professional feel for the everyday rider, yet still giving more experienced racers a full season of family fun.

After stepping away from a motocross series in 2016, John Simanovich, an industry veteran of race operations and sponsorship activation, envisioned a series more focused and inclusive to the youths. John, with his wife Ashley, founded Moto 4 Kids Racing bringing a vision for success with a dedicated focus on guiding the future stars of motocross.

The Moto 4 Kids Racing organization began filling through the gates at Lake Elsinore Motorsports Park for their inaugural race. Lake Elsinore Motorsports Park centralized In the Inland Empire, spread out over 300 acres as Southern California’s premiere racing facility. Once serving as the filming location for On Any Sunday, Lake Elsinore Motorsports Park has been widely recognized as the chosen location to host the Lucas Oil Motocross Championship series finale since 2013. This state-of-the-art facility is the prime location for the unique amateur motocross series aimed for the kids.

Trucks, vans and motor-homes alike began lining up outside the gate in the early morning hours around 06:30 AM to kick off the weekend’s events. Racers and their families were able to get the first looks at the freshly designed track that would play host to the season opener. Moto 4 Kids staff began registering riders with all necessary paperwork while distributing t-shirts, transponders and Wienerschnitzel combo meal cards to over 130 participants.

Race day brought the excitement and curiosity of what the day would entail. Ultimately, fun was the overall goal for riders and families as the day began to get underway. Once registration lines were diminished, the sound of two-stroke minibikes, and the sweet smell of premix filled the air as kids were ushered to the starting lines. The day was filled with action from all classes, ranging from 50cc through 85cc sized bikes as racers were happy and excited to have a new series focused on kids.

From beginners to experienced riders,

MOTO Lake Elsinore Motorsports Park gave the ultimate backdrop for many memories that were made throughout the inaugural race on and off of the track. Families voiced their appreciation and their overjoyed anticipation for the upcoming year to be racing in Southern California’s newest racing organization.

For more details visit www.Moto4Kids.Racing - @moto4kids.racing