the current Dakar champion in a
head-to-head fight.
"The navigation was already
tricky in those areas because
there are so many trails to choose
from," Howes said of the final
stage five. "Then, adding in all the
small bodies of water and mud
made things extra exciting!"
Brabec took three stage victo-
ries to Howes' two.
Third overall went to rally veteran
Bill Conger.
"It was a great rally," said Con-
ger. [I] rode solid for four days.
The fifth day was rough—I ate s**t
big time. And stage three I sur-
vived getting stuck in barbed wire."
Fourth overall and first in the
ADV Pro class went to the KTM
790 Adventure R-mounted Wes
VanNieuwenhuise, with Mike John-
son (KTM) taking fifth overall.
Pre-race favorite Colton Udall
(Honda) finished sixth overall after
suffering a one-hour penalty for a
timing card infringement on stage
three.
Eighteen-year-old Mason Klein
(KTM) took third on stages two
through five, but finished 26th
overall after a navigation error
on the opening stage cost him a
massive six hours.
"I had an amazing time at
my first rally. I've been looking
forward to this event all year. It's
awesome to chase the best in
this sport!" CN
OVERALL RESULTS
1. Ricky Brabec (HON)
2. Skyler Howes (KTM)
3. Bill Conger (KTM)
4. Wes Vannieuwenhuise (KTM)
5. Mike Johnson (KTM)
VOLUME 57 ISSUE 12 MARCH 24, 2020 P33
Colton Udall lost over
an hour on the first
stage but clawed his
way back up to sixth
overall by the finish.
Wes VanNieuwenhuise
and his beast of a KTM
790 Adventure R took
the ADV Pro win.
