Monday, November 25, 2024
HomeMotorsportsNo further collaboration: Dakar winner Toby Price and KTM part ways

No further collaboration: Dakar winner Toby Price and KTM part ways

After a decade and two Dakar victories, Toby Price and KTM are parting ways – the Australian says his contract has not been renewed

Over the past ten years or so, Toby Price has been one of the top stars in the rally-raid scene with the KTM works team, especially at the season highlight, the Dakar Rally. The Australian has achieved two overall victories. He also finished second once and third three times.

This collaboration is now coming to an end, as Price writes on his Instagram profile: “Everyone has been asking me which events I will be driving in this year. But there is personal news. KTM has decided not to renew my contract.”

This means that the Dakar in January was the last rally that Price rode for KTM. He finished just behind his teammate Kevin Benavides in fifth place. This marked the end of a long and very successful collaboration.

In 2015, Price finished third on his Dakar debut. In 2016, he took overall victory in his second attempt. His second triumph in South America followed in 2019. Price also became FIM World Champion in 2018.

In 2023, he only missed out on victory in Saudi Arabia in the final stage by just 43 seconds against his team-mate Kevin Benavides. This was despite the fact that Price did not win a single stage during the entire rally. No stage win in 2024 either.

“I feel that I’m still in top form and can fight for victories, especially at the Dakar,” says Price. “It’s a shame that I won’t have the opportunity in 2025, but I’m really grateful for the support that KTM has given me throughout my career.”

In recent years, the 36-year-old has also contested numerous off-road races in cars. These include the famous Finke Desert Race in Australia. He has won six times on a motorcycle and in the last three years in a car.

Price was at the wheel of a Mitsubishi. However, he parted ways at the end of 2023, as Mitsubishi has no ambition to return to the Dakar Rally with a major commitment. At the moment, it is not known which career path Price will take.

Either he stays loyal to motorcycles and switches to a competitor of KTM (Honda/Hero), or he switches completely to four wheels. In the coming months, he will contest the SCORE International Series with a Trophy Truck and tackle the famous rallies in Baja California (in Mexico)

RELATED ARTICLES

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Most Popular

Recent Comments