Versatile off-road racer Toby Price has marched to a dominant fourth victory in the 2015 Finke Desert Race, leading a KTM 1-2 finish in the Northern Territory on Monday.

Price and teammate Tye Simmonds finished first and second in the event’s 40th anniversary, while Active8 Yamaha rider Josh Green completed the star-studded podium.

This year’s 480-kilometre two-day journey from Alice Springs south to Finke saw approximately 600 motorcycle and 134 car competitors make the journey, as approximately 15,000 spectators camped along the length of the 240km course.

Price, who finished third on debut in the Dakar Rally in January and currently leads the Australian Off-Road Championship, continued to underline his burgeoning legend status by making his first successful title defence on a KTM 500 EXC, while carrying a foot injury he sustained during pre-running.

Price qualified fastest, took a 4m45s lead into the overnight camp at Finke before going on to win the fourth Finke Desert Race crown of his career by 6m35s. Incredibly, it was the second time Price has won Australia’s fastest Desert race since breaking his neck in April of 2013.

“It definitely wasn’t an easy one on this trip, that’s for sure,” Price commented. “But to get that monkey off my back and win back-to-back is an amazing feeling. To get win number four is better again. It was a hard slog and I can’t thank the crew here enough – it’s been an awesome effort by everybody.

“My theory was that if I could get a good run down and pull some gaps, hopefully my way home would be a little bit easier for me, so yesterday I just bit my lip and hung on and went for it. I don’t know whether my foot is cracked or whether there is some ligament damage, but I just know it’s very painful. It’s hard to stand on it and I had some very messy moments.

“I didn’t get on the track at all during the week, but when that green light comes on the adrenaline kicks in and we want to win Finke. A lot of guys have put too much time and effort in for me just to pull out and now at the end of the day I’m sitting on top and I’m pretty damn stoked that I kept pushing and went through all that.”

Behind the podium trio of Price, Simmonds and Green to complete the top five were Jacob Smith and Jack Dooley-McDonnell, while third of the factory KTMs Ivan Long was sixth after overcoming a broken hand sustained on the run back to Alice Springs.

2015 Finke Desert Race
Alice Springs, NT

Outright results:
1. Toby Price
2. Tye Simmonds
3. Joshua Green
4. Jacob Smith
5. Jack Dooley-McDonnell
6. Ivan Long
7. Beau Ralston
8. Lachlan Summers
9. Sam Davie
10. Ryan Cossens