The KTM Desert Racing Team’s first official outing may well be its most important, as this weekend’s 39th running of the Finke Desert Race bursts into action between Alice Springs and the township of Finke.

The 480-kilometre, two-day journey from Alice Springs South to Finke and back is a unique test of rider and motorcycle – the biggest, most high profile event on the Australian desert racing calendar.

Led by four-time Finke winner Ben Grabham, the KTM factory team also comprises dual winner Toby Price and new face Ivan Long, the talented South Australian who finished fifth Outright in 2013 as a privateer.

All three will ride KTM’s off-road flagship, the 500 EXC, and while both Price and Long are coming off niggling injuries, both have pre-run well and all three are optimistic about their Outright prospects in the race.

“The whole team is as healthy as they can be,” Grabham explained. “Toby is coming off a bit of an injury and so is Longy, but, with everything I’ve seen out there they’re both looking nice and strong and pretty comfortable on their bikes. The mechanics have done their jobs and the bikes are looking great so at this stage we’re very happy with how it’s going.

“The team’s been here in its entirety since last Friday, we’ve done a few runs to have a look at the track, and the new race bikes are feeling nice and fresh. Now we’ll just try to freshen up the body for a couple of days to feel good for the race. Both myself and Toby have had a lot of success here over the years, so it’s a matter of us being able to do what we know works, and the 500 EXC has been great.

“The bike I’ve got this year is as good as or better than anything I’ve ever won on; it’s just a matter of me doing what I need to do. The big key to this race the way it’s looking at the moment will be to Prologue well because of the dust. I have won from 16th place before, but it’s looking very dry and dusty this year.”

The 2014 race sees a Saturday Prologue before the race down on Sunday, and the trip back on the Monday Queen’s Birthday holiday.

KTM stocks will be boosted by young gun Wayde Carter, the 2013 Australian Junior Motocross Champion now a young senior and aspiring desert racer, and looking in excellent form aboard his KTM 250 SX.

The Alice Springs-based Branford Desert Racing Team will feature 26-year-old 2006 winner Ryan Branford on a KTM 450 SX-F, as well as similarly-mounted Kenny Armstead and his twin brother Robbie Armstead (KTM 250 SX-F).