Motorex KTM Off Road Racing team rider Toby Price has successfully defended his title in the KTM-sponsored Hattah Desert Race in Mildura, Victoria, on Sunday, 3 July.

Saturday saw current Australian Off Road Champion Price top the all-important Prologue as he stormed to pole position, setting a stunning best lap of 7:06.949sec, which was 16.412sec ahead of teammate Jarrod Bewley.

Come Sunday, Price finished the gruelling race in three hours, 47 minutes and 47.472 seconds aboard his KTM 450 SX-F, taking the victory by a spectacular three minutes and 47.584 seconds despite encountering a heavy crash on the opening lap of the race.

“That first lap made it a bit harder for me, coming off and winding myself a bit,” Singleton’s Price commented. “I pushed through, so to come out in front by over three minutes was a great result for both the team and I.

“I’m really happy with this one and everything is feeling positive for the A4DE next week.”

Bewley improved upon his finish from one year ago by one place with third position Outright in 2011, a well-deserved result that he was satisfied with at the race’s conclusion. Bewley completed the race in three hours, 42 minutes and 26.870 seconds.

“It was a good finish and I almost caught up to Warren Smart in second, so I’m happy with how it turned out overall,” Bewley said. “I put myself in a better position this year in the Prologue, so I definitely can’t complain with third overall.”

Brad Williscroft, who is the Motorex KTM Off Road Racing team manager, finished seventh Outright on his way to the win in the Masters category, also aboard a 450 SX-F.

“It was an awesome result to get both guys on the podium and we are really happy with how it all went,” Williscroft reflected. “Toby had a pretty big crash on the first lap, but he got going again and still charged through to win.

“Jarrod improved on last year’s result with a podium, so I’m very happy with their performances. As for myself, I started out a bit slow and worked my way back up. It was good to win my class and also take a top 10 overall.”

The Motorex KTM Off Road Racing team will now turn its attention to the Australian Four Day Enduro this weekend in Mackay, Queensland.

KTM also won the Up To 250cc Two-Stroke category with Boltens Motorcycles’ Alex Stephenson finishing 11th Outright on a 250 SX, plus the Up To 250cc Four-Stroke field was topped by 250 SX-F rider Kyle Willcock, 19th Outright.