Popular Australian motorcyclist Toby Price has made history by taking out the 2019 Dakar Rally in Peru this morning.
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Price, who grew up in Singleton, suffered a wrist injury earlier in the week as doubt was cast on his chances of adding to his historic 2016 victory.
Yet he would continue to endure the pain with continuous top five finishes to secure the outright lead heading into the final stage (which he also won convincingly).
“If I was told that I would be in this position a couple weeks ago I would tell them they’re absolutely crazy,” Price posted on social media an hour before the final stage.
This morning’s leg appeared to be a two horse race between Price and Rockstar Energy Husqvarna rider Pablo Quintanilla who trailed by one minute in the general classification.
However the Chilean would suffer a fall; allowing Price to steer his way to his second Dakar Rally title.
He would be joined on the championship podium by fellow Red Bull KTM Factory Team riders Matthias Walkner (Austria) and Sam Sunderland (Great Britain).
Victorian Ben Young was the next best Australian finishing 51st overall.
2019 Dakar Rally final leaderboard:
- Toby Price (Australia – Red Bull KTM Factory Team) 33:57’16”.
- Matthias Walkner (Austria – Red Bull KTM Factory Team) +09’13”.
- Sam Sunderland (Great Britain – Red Bull KTM Factory Team) +13’34”.
- Pablo Quintanilla (Chile – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna) +20’46”.
- Andrew Short (USA – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna) +44’10”.
Price’s results:
STAGE ONE – Finished sixth with a time of 01:00’44” over 331km.
STAGE TWO – Finished fourth with a time of 03:27’03” over 553km.
STAGE THREE – Finished ninth with a time of 04:07’42” over 798km.
STAGE FOUR – Finished third with a time of 03:47’37” over 511km.
STAGE FIVE – Finished ninth with a time of 04:17’33” over 776km.
STAGE SIX – Finished fourth with a time of 03:55’45” over 838km.
STAGE SEVEN – Finished eighth with a time of 04:06’00” over 387km.
STAGE EIGHT – Finished third with a time of 03:56’38” over 575km.
STAGE NINE – Finished fifth with a time of 03:50’07” over 409km.
STAGE TEN – Finished first with a time of 01:14’01” over 359km.