Price blitzes Hattah Desert Race

When he’s operating at optimum capacity KTM’s Toby Price is just about unbeatable in local competition, and so it was on July 6 when he sailed to victory in the 2014 Hattah Desert Race – his fourth victory in Victoria’s annual off-road showpiece after previously doing the business from 2010-2012.

Price, aboard his KTM 500EXC, defeated Yamaha’s Josh Green (YZ450F) by nearly two minutes, with Western Australian Louis Calvin (500EXC) a long way back in third sport. Price also came out on top in Saturday’s prologue. Ivan Long (500EXC) and Jarrod Bewley (Husaberg FE501) completed the top five, with past winner Glenn Kearney (Husqvarna) sixth.

“I’m stoked with the win, and the KTM Desert Team worked really hard and well," said Price. "Our only little bit of drama came at the end of lap three when we thought we were going to make two laps no worries, but I ran out of fuel with probably two kays to go.

"I tipped the bike on its side to get more fuel in it and it got to about 50 metres off the line and I had to run it the rest, so it was a bit of a close call, but we came out on top so that’s what matters. Overall it was a good result for the whole team and I was stoked to see Louis (Calvin) get on the podium at his first desert race, and Ivan (Long) did well also.”

FULL HATTAH RESULTS

The top 22 finishers completed seven laps of the 38km layout, with Price the only rider to sneak under the 30-minute mark with a best lap of 29 minutes, 56 seconds (29:56), while Green produced a 30:29 effort.

Of the 330 starters, only 187 completed the event – reinforcing its reputation as one of the toughest on the national calendar.