7 June 2015 – press release
KTM’S TOBY PRICE STARS AGAIN AT TATTS FINKE DESERT RACE
Toby Price aboard his #1 KTM 500 EXC appears unstoppable in his quest for his fourth King of the Desert title following a dominating performance on Day 1 of this year’s event.
Price covered the 226 kilometres in a remarkable time of 1 hour 54 minutes 45 seconds as compared to his winning Day 1 time last year of 1 hour 58 minutes 43 seconds.
While Price led all the way, a tussle for second and third into Finke saw the positions of David Walsh (#2 Class 5 Honda CRF450R), Joshua Green (#4 Class 5 Yamaha YZF450), Tye Simmonds (#299 Class 2 KTM 500 EXC) , and Ivan Long (#3 Class 2 KTM 500 EXC) change several times.
At Deep Well 68 kilometres from the start the order was Price, Walsh, Green, Simmonds, and Long in sixth.
At Rodinga (98 kilometres from the start) the order was Price, Green, Walsh, Simmonds and Long again in sixth.
At Bundooma (140 kilometres from the start) it was Price, Walsh, Simmonds, Green, and Long sixth.
By Mount Squires (172 kilometres from the start) the positions were Price, Walsh, Simmonds, Green, with Long into fifth.
At Finke the second and third positions were finally settled with Walsh in second, Long in third, Simmonds fourth, and Greene fifth.
Walsh’s time was 1 hour 59 minutes 30 seconds with Long completing the journey in 2 hours and 31 seconds just 4 seconds ahead of Greene.
Among the non- finishers today was Alice Springs rider Caleb Auricht (#10 Class 5 Honda CRF450R) who crashed just after the Alice Springs start suffering a suspected broken leg.
A Victorian rider who crashed in yesterday’s Prologue (qualifying) for the event has been air lifted to hospital in Adelaide. No further details are available.
After camping overnight the bike field will leave Finke tomorrow (Monday June 8) at (11.45am CST) for the run home to Alice Springs with the first bikes expected to arrive at approx. 1.45 pm CST.
Full results on the event web site: www.finkedesertrace.com.au
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