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).
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 |
VIDEO: 2017 Tatts Finke Desert Race Preview
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