Price clean sweeps off-road opener
Sensational debut for KTMToby Price has cultivated the dream start for his new employer KTM by winning the opening two rounds of the Yamaha Australian Off-Road Championship in Port Macquarie (NSW).
In muddy conditions, the defending champion was in ominous form, defeating team-mate Ben Grabham and Stefan Merriman (Yamaha) in Saturday's cross-country event, before continuing the blitz in yesterday's sprint format, this time ahead of his other team-mate, Jarrod Bewley, and young upstart Daniel Milner.
"The opening two rounds went really well," said Price. "To come away with two wins is a dream result, and the best way to start the season. ""The cross-country format at round one would have been the most challenging in the mud and wet, making the bike heavy to get around the track. I was third on the first lap, and then moved into second by lap two.
"Halfway around the second lap… Bewley had an unfortunate crash which handed me the lead. From there I checked out, and led until the chequered flag.
"For round two we did seven sprint races all up. I had consistent lap times, and was positioned between 4-5 seconds a lap quicker than the competition, which placed me well for another win. It wasn't easy though, with Bewley keeping me honest.
"He will be stiff competition as the series continues, as will Stefan Merriman who was probably disappointed in his results for the opening two rounds."
With Price romping to outright and E2 class victory, KTM's domination was completed by Bewley and Grabham in E1 and E3 respectively.
The next stop for the championship will be in Conondale (Qld) on May 1-2. Click on the following link for more information, including results, on the 2010 Yamaha Australian Off-Road Championship.
OUTRIGHT RESULTS
Rd1
1 Toby Price E2 KTM
2 Ben Grabham E3 KTM
3 Stefan Merriman E2 Yamaha
4 Jarrod Bewley E1 KTM
5 Mitcham Harper E3 Husaberg
6 Jason Davis E2 KTM
7 Geoff Braico E3 Husaberg
8 Josh Green E3 KTM
9 Daniel McCoy E2 KTM
10 Kirk Hutton E3 Yamaha
Rd2
1 Price
2 Bewley
3 Daniel Milner E1 Suzuki
4 Ben Burrell E1 Yamaha
5 Merriman
6 Grabham
7 Davis
8 Anthony Roberts E2 Honda
9 Blake Hore E3 Yamaha
10 Karl Power E1 KTM
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