Source: Supplied.

Australian desert racing ace Toby Price has finished second overall in the Atacama Rally, which marked round three of the 2018 FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship in Chile.

The final stage covered area previously used in the event, making for confusion in navigation, however Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Price negotiated the Chilean sands with class, setting the second fastest time in the stage to be credited runner-up behind eventual victor Kevin Benavides (Honda).

“It was a good day today,” said Price. “It was always going to be tough to make up enough time to take the win, especially over such a short stage. Nevertheless, I’m happy with how the day and the whole rally has gone. I set out at the beginning of the event to ride consistently and get back up to speed with the bike and the navigation and I think I have managed that.

“To finish second after such a tricky race is good and sets me up well for Argentina. Hopefully I can deliver more of the same, stay fit and healthy and put in another good performance.”

Price sits eighth in the championship standings as the world series heads to Argentina this weekend for the fourth stop of the championship.