Remarkable Price clinches second-career Dakar victory

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing sweeps 2019 podium in 18th-straight win.

Image: Supplied.

Australian Toby Price has captured a second-career victory in the 2019 Dakar Rally after winning the 10th and final stage on Thursday in Peru.

The Red Bull KTM Factory Racing star picked up his first stage win of this year’s edition to seal the result, remarkably overcoming a broken scaphoid bone in his wrist in December.

It was a podium sweep in the overall final classification for the Austrian manufacturer, with Price topping Matthias Walkner and Sam Sunderland on his way to securing KTM’s 18th-straight Dakar win.

Leading the overall standings by just over one minute going into the final stage, Price had no choice but to give his all on the day’s short 112-kilometre timed special. With competitors setting off in the reverse order to that of their position in the overall standings, Price was the very last motorcycle rider to enter the stage.

Pushing right from the start, Price knew he couldn’t spare a single second on the well-travelled route. Just 10 kilometres into the stage however, Pablo Quintanilla (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing) fell, enabling price to ease up somewhat to the finish.

Putting in a champion’s ride, he still pushed on to ultimately claim the stage win and with it, his second Dakar title.

In what has been a superb display of riding, determination and bravery, Price has overcome all the odds to take a well-deserved win. Breaking his wrist just weeks before the event put doubts on whether the 2016 Dakar winner would even complete the rally.

Showing immense resolve, he took each stage as it came, riding consistently, and at the end of the 10-day event his perseverance paid off, adding the result to his 2016 Dakar and the 2018 FIM Cross Country Rallies World Championship crown.

Full report to follow.


Source: MotoOnline.com.au

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