A tragic incident during the Car segment of the 2021 Tatts Finke Desert Race has forced the return leg of the Bike category to be cancelled, with David Walsh (KTM Racing Team) being declared the winner.

The Car category, which was taken out by six-time Bike winner Toby Price, saw an incident unfold 35-kilometres from the finish line in the later stages of the return leg, where a man tragically died and two others were airlifted to hospital after a vehicle struck a group of spectators.

The incident prompted promoters to halt the event, declaring the remaining Cars and cancelling the entire return leg for the Bike category. Sunday’s opening day results will make up the final classification, which sees Walsh earn back-to-back Finke victories.

Prologue winner Jack Simpson (Husqvarna) finished over four minutes behind in second, while KTM-mounted Beau Ralston was third, just 33 seconds shy of the runner-up.

The top five was completed by Rick Ireland (KTM) and Callum Norton (Husqvarna Racing Team), while sixth through to 10th consisted of Brodie Waters (KTM), Nicholas Waters (KTM), Kyle Pfitzner (KTM), Jacob Smith (Husqvarna), and Liam Walsh (KTM).

Bike category competitors returned to Alice Springs this afternoon after making a convoy from Aputula.

Detailed results