news: Local rider David Walsh tops Finke Bikes Prologue

Alice Springs’ David Walsh will lead the Bike field to Finke after setting the fastest time in the Prologue for the 2017 Tatts Finke Desert Race.

Walsh (#3 KTM EXC500), the highest finisher in 2016 (third) of those who have backed up for the 2017 edition, clocked a 4:55.7s time around the 8.3km Prologue in the Alice, 4.8s faster than next-best Ivan Long of South Australia (#X99 Husqvarna FE450).

Daymon Stokie (#4 Yamaha WR500F) made it two Territorians in the top three, ahead of New South Wales rider Jacob Smith (#X95 Honda CRF450R), and another Alice Springs rider in Luke Hayes (#6 KTM EXC500).

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Former St Kilda and Sydney Swans full-forward Tony Lockett, a several-time Finke competitor, was 441st fastest as 532 riders set Prologue times of the 557 that started.

Last year’s winner Toby Price is a notable absentee from the Bikes competition as he continues to recover from injuries sustained in the Dakar Rally, but was seventh-fastest in the Cars division.

The Bikes field will set off from Alice Springs for the 226km race to Finke tomorrow from 1130 local time, before returning on Monday.

Top 10: Prologue: Bikes, 2017 Tatts Finke Desert Race

Pos	Class	Car	Competitor	Town	Bike	Time	Gap To Leader
1	2	3	Walsh, David	Alice Springs, NT	KTM EXC500	00:04:55.7
2	5	X99	Long, Ivan	Murray Bridge, SA	Husqvarna FE450	00:05:00.5	+00:00:04.8
3	2	4	Stokie, Daymon	Araluen, NT	Yamaha WR500F	00:05:03.2	+00:00:07.5
4	5	X95	Smith, Jacob	Condobolin, NSW	Honda CRF450R	00:05:04.8	+00:00:09.1
5	2	6	Hayes, Luke	Alice Springs, NT	KTM EXC500	00:05:06.9	+00:00:11.2
6	2	297	Green, Joshua	Stroud, NSW	Yamaha WR500F	00:05:09.0	+00:00:13.3
7	5	7	Smith, Todd	Condobolin, NSW	Honda CRF450R	00:05:12.5	+00:00:16.8
8	2	12	Collins, Kent	Mount Gambier, SA	KTM EXC	00:05:17.7	+00:00:22.0
9	1	10	Trigg, Nathan	Ouyen, VIC	KTM 300 EXC	00:05:19.9	+00:00:24.2
10	2	265	Tilbrook, Josh	Whyalla Norrie, SA	Husqvarna FE501	00:05:22.8	+00:00:27.1