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Reigning Dakar winner Toby Price is set to compete in both the bike and truck divisions of this year’s Finke Desert Race.
The 28-year-old already has four titles to his name on two-wheels in the 480km contest which runs from Alice Springs to Finke and back.
Although not the first to contest both classes, Price’s effort will mark the only time that such a feat has been attempted by a reigning winner.
Price says that even carrying an injury – a slipped disc in his back – has not deterred him from attempting the double.
The event’s format will see Price complete the Alice to Finke leg in the truck before flying back to the start and restarting on the bike.
He will then repeat the process from Finke back to Alice on the second day to complete the event.
“For the last three years I’ve been extremely eager to compete in both classes,” explained Price ahead of the June 10-13 race.
“I’ve won four motorcycle categories, but this will make it a lot harder.
“I want to be able to do this race with both categories while I’m fairly young, and if anyone had the chance to do what I’m doing, I’m sure they would jump on top of it as well.
“My back has been good … I still have a little pain, but nothing is getting worse, so that’s the main thing.”
A fifth win on two-wheels would see Price equal all-time record holder Randall Gregory.
Winning the car element will be an even bigger challenge, however, with Price relatively new to four-wheel competition.
“My interest in the trucks sparked when I started competing in the Stadium Super Trucks Series at the Clipsal 500 in Adelaide in 2014,” he said.
“The sponsors have come on board and have been a big help to make this dream of mine come true.
“We’re going to try and organise a test session in the truck and see what it’s going to feel like and what we can hit and how big we can hit.
“Logistically this has been a massive challenge for my internal team, KTM Racing and Geiser Brothers to even get us to the start line, so if nothing less this is going to be an epic adventure.”
