Toby Price
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Toby Joseph Price OAM[1] is an Australian off-road and enduro motorcycle racing world champion. He lives in Gold Coast, Queensland, and rode for the KTM Off-Road Racing Team[2] until October 2015, then the Red Bull Factory KTM Rally Team until 2024.[3]
Key Information
Price is a two-time winner of the Dakar Rally, taking out the Bikes class in 2016 and 2019.
Amateur career
[edit]Raised in a family that loves motorsports, he started riding motorbikes aged 2 years[4] and started winning races at four.[5] His father, John Price, is a former off-road buggy Australian champion.[5] As a junior, living in Roto and then Hillston, Price frequently won New South Wales and Australian junior titles from around 1994 to 2003.[citation needed]
In 2003, Price won both of the two top divisions in the Australian Junior Motocross Championships, the 15 Years 125cc class and the 13–16 years 250cc 4-stroke,[6] 12 weeks after breaking both wrists in a training accident.[citation needed]
Professional career
[edit]2004–2008
[edit]Price began his professional career in Australia in 2004, aged 16. After winning two Australian junior titles in 2003 he was signed by Kawasaki Australia and then moved from Hillston to Singleton. Injuries kept him from competing for much of this time.
2009
[edit]Riding for Kawasaki, he won the Australian Off-Road Championship in his first year of competition. He was awarded the Australian Dirt Bike magazine Rookie of the Year title.[7]
Chosen to ride for Australia in the 2009 Enduro in Portugal, Price was the fastest under-23 years rider and was 14th in the world.[5]
2010
[edit]Riding for KTM, Price won most of the major Australian Off-Road titles of 2010: AORC, Finke (on first attempt), Hattah (on first attempt), A4DE.[8]
2011
[edit]Except for a fuel mishap in round one of the 2011 AORC, and a mechanical failure in the Finke Desert Race, Price again won most of the major off-road races in Australia. He won rounds 2, 3 and 4 of the AORC,[9] Hattah and the A4DE.[10] A mid-season injury put him out of the AORC title chase, leaving him in ninth place overall.[11]
Selected for the Australian team to compete in the 2011 International Six Days Enduro (ISDE) competition in Finland from 8 to 13 August, Price finished fourth in the E2 class of the ISDE and eighth overall, making him the highest finishing Australian.[12]
2012
[edit]Price took first place Pro Class Melbourne Enduro-X[13] and won the Finke Desert Race[14] and Hattah Desert Race[15] He also won AORC, the first time it had been won from the E3 class, winning eight of the ten rounds, and finishing second in the other two.[16]
He was selected for the Australian team to compete in the 2012 International Six Days Enduro competition in Germany from 24 to 29 September, leading the Australian team to second place in the world. After the first couple of days, Price was leading the E3 class and was fifth overall, despite a bent front wheel from the first day. Near the halfway mark of the event, he suffered broken ribs in an incident. He continued despite the injuries, finishing second in the E3 class and tenth overall.[17]
Two weeks after returning from the ISDE, Price won the E3 class in the A4DE, coming second overall, still riding with broken ribs.[18]
2013
[edit]Riding for KTM, Price won rounds 2, 3 and 4 of the AORC, leading the E3 class and Outright.
While in California riding for KTM America in the AMA Hare and Hound National Championship in April, Price was involved in a crash, breaking three bones in his neck, and his thumb.[19] After a major operation to repair his neck, Price was unable to ride until September. Following intensive rehabilitation, he returned to America and joined the KTM America team (though not riding) for the November Baja 1000 in which his teammate Kurt Caselli was killed.
Price's first major race after the broken neck was the December Red Bull Day In The Dirt in California, where he came second.[20]
2014
[edit]Price won round 1 of the AORC, but suffered a crash that put him out of round 2. Less than a month later, still suffering the effects of the crash, he came second in rounds 3 and 4. He placed first in rounds 5, 6, 9, 10 and 11, becoming the only rider to win the AORC four times.[21]
In June, he won the Finke Desert race for the third time,[22] followed by the Hattah Desert Race again in July.[23]
He won all three rounds of the Western Australian Desert Tri-Series, the Kumarina 500 in June, Doorawarrah 500 in July and Indee 500 in August.[24]
Trying International Cross-country Rallying for the first time, Price showed his versatility by gaining 8th place in the Morocco Rally.[25]
In November, he won the E3 class at the International Six Days Enduro (ISDE) in Argentina, coming second overall by 45 seconds, after 6 days' racing.[26]
Returning to California for the Red Bull Day In The Dirt, Price took out first place for 2014.[27]
2015
[edit]In his debut attempt at the Dakar Rally, Price achieved a win in Stage 12, and finished in third place overall.[28]
Price was a guest driver at the Clipsal 500 Stadium Super Trucks race at Adelaide Street Circuit.[29] He competed in two of the three races, finishing sixth[30] and eighth.[31]
Several days before the 2015 Finke Desert Race, a large stick penetrated Price's boot while practising, breaking his right ankle and foot. He continued, and qualified first in the prologue, then won both days of the race, taking out his fourth Finke title.[32]
Price won his fifth Hattah Desert Race title in July,[33] coinciding with signing to replace the retiring Marc Coma on the Factory KTM Red Bull Rally team in the World Rally Championship and Dakar Rally[34]
He then took out a record fifth AORC win, wrapping up the title with two rounds still remaining.[35]
2016
[edit]In January, Price dominated the Dakar Rally, winning Stages 2,5,6,8 and 9, winning overall by about 40 minutes, and becoming the first Australian to ever win any class of the Dakar Rally, as well as the only person to ever win on the second attempt and the first non-European to win the Bikes category.[36]
He followed this up in April by becoming the first Australian ever to win the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, putting him in the lead of the 2016 World Championship.[37]
Price returned to Australia for the 2016 Finke Desert Race, competing in both Cars and Bikes, flying back along the track by aircraft after completing the Car leg each day, then riding the Bike leg. He came second in the Cars,[38] then won the Bikes for a record-equalling fifth time.[39]
In October, Price returned to Europe, winning the OiLibya Rally in Morocco, and taking 3rd place overall in the 2016 World Championship.[40]
2017
[edit]Price started his 2017 season with the Dakar once again, however he crashed out of the race while leading in Stage 4, having won Stage 2. He was later diagnosed with a broken left femur.[41]
Eight weeks after breaking his femur, Price was back in the driver's seat at the Adelaide Clipsal 500 in the Stadium Super Trucks. He came fourth in Race 1 and second in Race 2.[42]
Price was unable to race in the bikes section of the 2017 Finke Desert Race on doctor's orders, but was able to compete in the buggies. Starting from 7th on the grid in dusty conditions, Price was in 3rd place 80 km from the finish when his car broke down with an engine sensor failure.[43]
2018
[edit]Price's first motorcycle race since breaking his femur was the 2018 Dakar Rally in January. He rode consistently for the first 9 stages, but was in a group of riders who took a wrong turn in Stage 10, losing about 50 minutes. He then won Stages 11 and 13, coming third overall by 23 minutes.[44]
In March, he returned to the Adelaide 500, driving in both the Stadium Super Trucks and the new SuperUtes Series. He came second overall in the inaugural round of the SuperUtes.[45] Price had troubles in the first two rounds of the Stadium Super Trucks, but finished Race 3 in 3rd place.[46]
He then raced in the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, winning the first stage. Price finished seventh overall,[47] after a big crash in Stage 2, and stopping to assist fellow rider Mohammed Balooshi who was unconscious after a crash in Stage 3.[48]
Toby returned to Australia for the 2018 Finke Desert Race, again attempting the Iron Man Double (Car and Bike titles). After Day 1 he was coming second in the Cars, but had a power steering pump failure and did not complete the return leg. He led the Bikes all the way on both days, despite a hard fall around the 100 km mark on Day 2. He finished over 10 minutes ahead of his nearest rival, taking out a record 6th Bikes title.[49]
In August, Price came second in the 2018 Atacama Rally in Chile,[50] then second by 6 seconds in the Desafío Ruta 40 in Tucumán, Argentina.[51]
He won the final round of the FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship, the Rallye OiLibya du Maroc, in October, becoming 2018 FIM World Rally Champion.[52] Price was the first Australian to ever achieve this title.[53]
2019
[edit]Riding with a broken wrist, Price won the 2019 Dakar Rally.[54] He was awarded the inaugural Ronald J Walker Award for Excellence by the Australian Motor Sport Hall of Fame in March.[55]
In October, Price returned to the Stadium Super Trucks for the Gold Coast 600 weekend.[56] Although he did not have a qualifying time when his No. 87 truck began experiencing oil pressure problems, he set the fastest unofficial time when he briefly drove Robby Gordon's No. 7 truck.[57] In the first race of the weekend, Price started on the pole and led every lap until he was turned by Matthew Brabham in turn 11 on the final lap, dropping him to sixth.[58][59] He finished the second race in fifth.[60]
Price also raced in the Baja 1000 along with Nasser Al-Attiyah coming in second place.[61]
2020
[edit]Price came third in the 2020 Dakar Rally, winning Stages 1 and 5.[62] In Stage 7, he was first on scene and stopped for an hour and 20 minutes to try to assist Paulo Gonçalves, who was later pronounced dead from injuries sustained in the crash. Stage 8 of the rally was cancelled for the motorbikes and quads following the death of Paulo.[63]
In February, Price returned to the Stadium Super Trucks at Adelaide, racing under the Team Australia banner in a crossover race between SST and the newly-formed Australian Boost Mobile Super Trucks.[64]
2021
[edit]Price won Stages 1 and 3 of the 2021 Dakar Rally, and rode all Stage 8 with a severely damaged rear tyre that he repaired with duct tape and cable ties. He was less than a minute from the overall lead in Stage 9 when he crashed, injuring his left arm and shoulder and had to be airlifted to hospital, putting him out of the race.[65]
On Australia Day 2021, Price was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia, for service to motorsport, particularly to cross country motorcycle racing.[66]
In June, Price became the first person to win the Finke Desert Race both in a car and on a bike, when he won the Cars category.[67] Four days before Finke, he re-signed with KTM Factory Racing for another two years, and received doctor's clearance to ride motorcycles again following his Dakar shoulder injury.[68]
Price returned to the Boost Mobile Super Trucks in July at Reid Park Street Circuit.[69] He won his first career SST race in the first event after taking the lead following the competition caution.[70]
2022
[edit]Price came 10th in the 2022 Dakar Rally, winning Stage 10.[71]
His autobiography, Endurance: The Toby Price Story[72] was released in late January.
Returning to the Finke Desert Race in June, Price won the Cars category for the second time, setting a record time of 1:36:38 from Alice Springs to Finke, and an overall race record of 3:21:46.[73] This gave Price his eighth King of the Desert title and he remains the only competitor to have won on both two wheels and four.[74]
2023
[edit]Price came second in the 2023 Dakar Rally, after winning the Prologue. He was 43 seconds behind teammate Kevin Benavides after 2 weeks of racing.[75]
In June, Price won the Finke Desert Race for the ninth time, taking out the cars category for the third consecutive year.[76]
Price won the Rallye du Maroc in October, giving him overall second place in the 2023 World Rally-Raid Championship, 4 points behind Luciano Benavides.[77]
2024
[edit]Price won the 2024 Baja 500 in a SCORE Trophy Truck, with a time of 9 hours, 19 minutes, 55 seconds.[78]
Sponsorships
[edit]- KTM (2009–present)
- Red Bull
- Lancaster Motor Group
- Mitsubishi Motors[80]
- ARB 4x4 Accessories
- Can-Am
- Blundstone Footwear, BFGoodrich
- Michelin, Santa Cruz Bicycles, Oakley, Inc.
- Method Race Wheels
- Battery World, Yuasa Batteries
- Gearwrench, Milwaukee
- TSCO Racing, Fox Racing Shox, MoTeC
- Sparco, CBR, SDG, Howe Performance
- Fiberwerx, Waverley Fork Lifts, Rigid
- Supercheap Auto
- Kawasaki motorcycles (2003–2009)
Career results
[edit]Major titles
[edit]- 2009 Australian Off-Road Championship (AORC)
- 2010 Finke Desert Race
- 2010 Hattah Desert Race
- 2010 Australian 4 Day Enduro (A4DE)
- 2010 Australian Off-Road Championship (AORC)
- 2011 Hattah Desert Race
- 2011 Australian 4 Day Enduro (A4DE)
- 2012 Finke Desert Race
- 2012 Hattah Desert Race
- 2012 Australian Off-Road Championship (AORC)
- 2014 Finke Desert Race
- 2014 Hattah Desert Race
- 2014 Australian Off-Road Championship (AORC)
- 2014 International Six Days Enduro (ISDE) E3
- 2014 A Day in the Dirt Motocross Grand Prix
- 2015 Finke Desert Race
- 2015 Hattah Desert Race
- 2015 Australian Off-Road Championship (AORC)
- 2016 Dakar Rally
- 2016 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge
- 2016 Finke Desert Race
- 2016 Rallye OiLibya du Maroc
- 2018 Finke Desert Race
- 2018 Rallye OiLibya du Maroc
- 2018 FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship
- 2019 Dakar Rally
- 2021 Finke Desert Race (Cars)
- 2022 Finke Desert Race (Cars)
- 2023 Finke Desert Race (Cars)
- 2023 Rallye du Maroc
- 2024 Baja 500
Dakar Rally
[edit]| Year | Class | Vehicle | Position | Stages won |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Motorbike | 3rd | 1 | |
| 2016 | 1st | 5 | ||
| 2017 | DNF | 1 | ||
| 2018 | 3rd | 2 | ||
| 2019 | 1st | 1 | ||
| 2020 | 3rd | 2 | ||
| 2021 | DNF | 2 | ||
| 2022 | 10th | 1 | ||
| 2023 | 2nd | 0 | ||
| 2024 | 5th | 0 | ||
| 2025 | Car | DNF | 0 |
Stadium Super Trucks
[edit](key) (Bold – Pole position. Italics – Fastest qualifier. * – Most laps led.)
| Stadium Super Trucks results | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | SSTC | Pts | Ref | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2015 | ADE 6 |
ADE | ADE 8 |
STP | STP | LBH | DET | DET | DET | AUS | TOR | TOR | OCF | OCF | OCF | SRF | SRF | SRF | SRF | SYD | LVV | LVV | 26th | 28 | [81] | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2016 | ADE 12 |
ADE 2* |
ADE 7 |
STP | STP | LBH | LBH | DET | DET | DET | TOW | TOW | TOW | TOR 5 |
TOR 4 |
CLT | CLT | OCF | OCF | SRF 6 |
SRF 4 |
SRF 3 |
7th | 150 | [82] | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2017 | ADE 4 |
ADE 2 |
ADE 10 |
STP | STP | LBH | LBH | PER | PER | PER | DET | DET | TEX | TEX | HID | HID | HID | BEI | GLN | GLN | ELS | ELS | 15th | 66 | [83] | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2018 | ELS | ADE 12 |
ADE 10 |
ADE 3 |
LBH | LBH | PER | PER | DET | DET | TEX | TEX | ROA | ROA | SMP | SMP | HLN | HLN | MXC | MXC | 20th | 40 | [84] | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 2019 | COA | COA | TEX | TEX | LBH | LBH | TOR | TOR | MOH | MOH | MOH | MOH | ROA | ROA | ROA | POR | POR | SRF 6* |
SRF 5 |
16th | 34 | [85] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Boost Mobile Super Trucks
[edit](key) (Bold – Pole position. Italics – Fastest qualifier. * – Most laps led.)
| Boost Mobile Super Trucks results | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | BMSTC | Pts | Ref | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2020 | ADE 2 |
ADE 5 |
ADE 6 |
N/A1 | – | [86] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2021 | SYM | SYM | SYM | HID | HID | HID | TOW 1 |
TOW 2 |
TOW 9 |
9th | 27 | [87][88] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1 Standings were not recorded by the series for the 2020 season.
FIM Cross-Country Rallies and W2RC
[edit]- 2016 3rd place
- 2018 1st place
- 2023 2nd place
Awards
[edit]Price was awarded the Order of Australia Medal for service to motorsport in the 2021 Australia Day Honours List.[1]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "MEDAL (OAM) OF THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA IN THE GENERAL DIVISION" (PDF). www.gg.gov.au. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
- ^ a b "KTM Racing Team – Riders". www.ktm.com.au. Retrieved 25 November 2011.
- ^ "Toby Price has achieved a 'Dream Come True' contract with the KTM Factory Red Bull Rally Racing Team". www.tp87.com.au. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
- ^ "Toby Price Motorex KTM Off-Road official Facebook page". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 25 November 2011.
- ^ a b c "Motorbike champ lives the dream". huntervalleynews.yourguide.com.au. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
- ^ "2003 Australian Junior MX Championships Review". www.fullnoise.com.au. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
- ^ "ADB Awards Recognise Australian Racers". www.racerxonline.com. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
- ^ "KTM Racing Australia". www.ktm.com.au. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
- ^ "Motorcycling Australia: Results". www.ma.org.au. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
- ^ "MotoOnline 2011 A4DE Race Recap". www.motoonline.com.au. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
- ^ "Finke Kings Nominated for ADB Off Road Rider of the Year Award". finkedesertrace.com.au. Retrieved 25 November 2011.
- ^ "International Six Days Enduro 2011 Results". fim-isde-live.info. Retrieved 13 August 2011.
- ^ "Melbourne Enduro-X". www.enduro-x.com.au/. Retrieved 1 March 2012.
- ^ "Price wins Finke". www.abc.net.au. Retrieved 11 June 2012.
- ^ "Price dominates third Hattah Desert Race for Motorex KTM Off Road Racing". www.ktm.com.au. Retrieved 11 July 2012.
- ^ "AORC Championship E1, 2, 3 Outright Season 2012". www.mylaps.com. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
- ^ "KTM contenders race to silver in ISDE for Team Australia". www.ktm.com.au. Retrieved 5 October 2012.
- ^ "Price and Motorex KTM 500 EXC win E3 category at A4DE". www.ma.org.au. Retrieved 20 November 2012.
- ^ "Toby Price hospitalised following American crash". www.transmoto.com.au. Retrieved 14 April 2013.
- ^ "Red Bull Day in the Dirt 2013". www.adayinthedirt.com. Retrieved 9 December 2013.
- ^ "Price Sets an AORC Record". www.tp87.com.au. Retrieved 18 September 2014.
- ^ "Price clinches third Finke Desert Race victory". www.motoonline.com.au. Retrieved 9 June 2014.
- ^ "KTM 2014 Hattah Desert Race". www.computime.com.au. Retrieved 6 July 2014.
- ^ "Price secures Desert Tri-Series clean-sweep". www.motoonline.com.au. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
- ^ "Price Completes Outstanding International Rally Debut". www.tp87.com.au. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
- ^ "FIM International Six Days Enduro 2014 Live Results". www.fim-isde-live.info. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
- ^ "An Amazing Day In The Dirt". www.tp87.com.au. Retrieved 1 December 2014.
- ^ "Dakar 2015 Ranking". www.dakar.com. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
- ^ "Toyo Tires Stadium Super Trucks Presented by Traxxas". www.clipsal500.com.au. Retrieved 2 April 2015.
- ^ "Round 1 of 20 – Clipsal 500 – 2/27/15". Stadium Super Trucks. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
- ^ "Round 3 of 20 – Clipsal 500 – 3/1/15". Stadium Super Trucks. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
- ^ "Proving pirates win desert races – KTM's Toby Price on winning his fourth Finke Desert Race with a badly injured ankle". www.redbull.com. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
- ^ "PENRITE 2015 HATTAH DESERT RACE". www.computime.com.au. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
- ^ "Dirt Action Magazine". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
- ^ "AORC". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 26 July 2015.
- ^ "Price Dominates The Dunes". www.dakar.com. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
- ^ "Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge Bikes 2016". timing.sporttraxx.com. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
- ^ "2016 Car and Buggy Results Overall Outright". finkedesertrace.com.au. Retrieved 13 June 2016.
- ^ "2016 Bike and Quad Results Overall Outright". finkedesertrace.com.au. Retrieved 13 June 2016.
- ^ "Toby Price and Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team close the rally season with a win in Morocco". press.ktm.com. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
- ^ "Dakar Rally: Australian defending champion Toby Price crashes out of race, breaking his leg". www.abc.net.au. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
- ^ "Adelaide Casino Stadium Super Trucks". www.clipsal500.com.au. Retrieved 4 March 2017.
- ^ "Price Runs Agonizingly Short Of Finke Finish". www.tp87.com.au. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
- ^ "Tracking Dakar 2018". gaps.dakar.com. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
- ^ "2018 ECB SuperUtes Series Results". www.supercars.com. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
- ^ "Stadium Super Trucks Adelaide 500". www.adelaide500.com.au. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
- ^ "Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge 2018 Bikes". timing.sporttraxx.com. Retrieved 29 March 2018.
- ^ "Price sacrifices chances to help fallen rival". www.speedcafe.com. Retrieved 29 March 2018.
- ^ "Tatts Finke Desert Race Live Stream". www.facebook.com/finkedesertrace. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
- ^ "KTM Factory Racing". www.facebook.com/KTMRacing. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
- ^ "Sport: FIM Cross Country Rallies Ranking". www.fim-live.com. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
- ^ "Sport: Price wins 2018 FIM World Rally Championship". www.tp87.com.au. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
- ^ "Sport: FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship". en.wikipedia.org. Retrieved 10 October 2018.[circular reference]
- ^ "Tracking Dakar 2019". gaps.dakar.com. Retrieved 18 January 2019.
- ^ "Price and Power receive inaugural Ron Walker Award". www.speedcafe.com. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
- ^ Herrero, Daniel (30 August 2019). "Toby Price to rejoin Super Trucks on Gold Coast". Speedcafe. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
- ^ Nguyen, Justin (25 October 2019). "Robby Gordon leads Aussie-American grid in Gold Coast qualifying". The Checkered Flag. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
- ^ "Garry's Gold Coast 600 Support Wrap – Saturday". Auto Action. 26 October 2019. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
- ^ Nguyen, Justin (26 October 2019). "Robby Gordon slips by final lap contact, wins SST Gold Coast Race 1". The Checkered Flag. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
- ^ Nguyen, Justin (27 October 2019). "Matt Brabham sneaks by final lap drama, wins SST Gold Coast Race 2". The Checkered Flag. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
- ^ "Nasser Al-Attiyah and Toby Price score a podium finish in their first-ever Baja 1000!". www.automobilsport.com. Archived from the original on 12 December 2019. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
- ^ "Tracking Dakar 2020". gaps.dakar.com. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
- ^ "Devastated Toby Price recounts Dakar Rally death of Paulo Goncalves". www.stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
- ^ Chapman, Simon (12 February 2020). "Toby Price, Greg Gartner join Stadium Super Trucks in Adelaide". Speedcafe. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
- ^ "Tracking Dakar 2021". gaps.dakar.com. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
- ^ "Toby Price honored with Order of Australia Medal". redbull.com. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
- ^ "Tatts Finke Desert Race". finkedesertrace.com.au. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
- ^ "Toby Price Racing". facebook.com/tobyprice87. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
- ^ O'Brien, Connor (7 July 2021). "Price to join SST field in Townsville". Speedcafe. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
- ^ Nguyen, Justin (10 July 2021). "Toby Price scores maiden SST win in Townsville Race 1". The Checkered Flag. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
- ^ "Tracking Dakar 2022". live.worldrallyraidchampionship.com. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
- ^ "Endurance: The Toby Price Story". tp87.com.au. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
- ^ "Cars Outright - Tatts Finke Desert Race". results.finkedesertrace.com.au. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
- ^ "Price wins Finke Desert Race in record time". Speedcafe. 13 June 2022. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
- ^ "Tracking Dakar 2023". live.worldrallyraidchampionship.com. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
- ^ "2023 Tatts Finke Desert Race Results - Cars". my.raceresult.com. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
- ^ "Official W2RC rankings". live.worldrallyraidchampionship.com. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
- ^ "Score International 2024 Baja 500". baja500.score-international.com. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
- ^ "Partnerships - Toby Price". www.tp87.com.au. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
- ^ "News – Mitsubishi Motors Newest Ambassador". www.tp87.com.au. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
- ^ "2015 Official Point Standings". Stadium Super Trucks. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
- ^ "2016 Overall Point Standings". Stadium Super Trucks. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
- ^ "2017 Overall Point Standings". Stadium Super Trucks. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
- ^ "2018 Overall Point Standings". Stadium Super Trucks. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
- ^ "2019 Overall Point Standings". Stadium Super Trucks. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
- ^ "2020 Adelaide Results". Stadium Super Trucks. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
- ^ "2021 Beaurepaires Tasmania SuperSprint – Symmons Plains International Raceway | 2021 Australian Stadium Super Trucks Series - Race 3 | Meeting Points Report". Natsoft Race Results. Archived from the original on 20 June 2021. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
- ^ "2021 Merlin Darwin Triple Crown – HiddenValley Raceway | 2021 Australian Stadium Super Trucks Series - Race 3 | Meeting Points Report". Natsoft Race Results. Archived from the original on 22 June 2021. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
External links
[edit]- Toby Price at DriverDB.com
- Toby Price at eWRC-results.com
Toby Price
View on GrokipediaEarly life and background
Early life
Toby Price was born on August 18, 1987, in Hillston, a small rural town in New South Wales, Australia.[8] He grew up on a vast 43,000-acre cattle and sheep farm in the remote outback area near Roto, approximately 700 kilometers west of Sydney, where his family managed the property alongside relatives.[9][10] This isolated environment, lacking initial amenities like electricity and running water, immersed young Price in the rigors of farm life from an early age, including long school commutes and hands-on activities that built his resilience and familiarity with off-road terrain.[9][11] Price's family played a pivotal role in shaping his early years, with parents John and Pauline providing unwavering support amid the challenges of remote living. His father, John, was a former Australian off-road buggy champion, instilling a passion for motorsports in the household despite the family's primary focus on farming.[12][8] The couple, along with siblings Matthew and Amanda, relocated within the region to Hillston as Price grew older, maintaining a close-knit dynamic that emphasized outdoor exploration and self-reliance.[9][13] Price's interest in motorcycles emerged during his toddler years, sparked by the farm's expansive landscapes and his father's racing background. At around age two or three, he received his first bike—a hand-me-down Pee Wee 50 or Suzuki JR50 from his older brother—as a gift that ignited his enthusiasm for riding across the rugged property.[14][11][15] This early exposure, supported by his parents' encouragement and sacrifices to facilitate local outings, laid the foundation for his lifelong pursuit of off-road activities without any formal racing pressure at the outset.[12][16]Family and personal interests
Toby Price has resided on the Gold Coast in Queensland since the early 2010s, providing a coastal base that complements his off-road lifestyle.[17][18][19] Price shares a close bond with his parents, John and Pauline, who instilled a love for motorsports and supported his early career despite financial challenges on their New South Wales farm.[20] His sister, Amanda (Min), who was born prematurely and faced significant health issues, passed away in 2011, an event that profoundly affected him.[20] Price keeps his current relationships private, with no public details on a spouse or children. Beyond racing, Price maintains rigorous fitness training to endure the physical demands of rally events, emphasizing resilience honed from his rural upbringing.[10] He has contributed to philanthropy in motorsports-related causes, including auctioning his 2020 Dakar starting gear to raise funds for the New South Wales Rural Fire Service amid bushfire relief efforts and donating personally to CareFlight, an air ambulance service critical for emergency medical transport in remote areas.[21][22] Price's off-road lifestyle, shaped by his childhood on a vast farm where he rode freely across expansive terrain, continues to influence his personal pursuits and recovery approaches. In 2017, following a severe crash during the Dakar Rally that resulted in a broken left femur and a pulmonary embolism, he underwent surgery in Bolivia before returning to Australia and completed intensive rehabilitation, returning to competitive racing just eight weeks later.[20][1][10]Early career
Amateur career
Toby Price entered competitive racing in Australian junior motocross around the age of 10, building on earlier informal riding experiences that began when he was just four years old in 50cc classes at local New South Wales club events.[23] His early talent was evident, as he quickly progressed through the junior ranks, competing in events that honed his skills in technical track riding and race strategy.[3] Price achieved significant success in the New South Wales state junior motocross championships, securing victories in 1998 and then claiming four consecutive titles from 2000 to 2003, with the latter marking his final junior season despite challenges like arm pump surgery.[24][20] These wins established him as a dominant force in regional competition, often lapping fields and demonstrating exceptional speed and consistency on varied terrains.[25] By his mid-teens, Price had transitioned toward broader off-road disciplines, including initial forays into enduro events alongside his motocross pursuits, and he capped his amateur era with multiple national junior titles before turning 18.[25] In 2003, at age 15, he won both premier divisions of the Australian Junior Motocross Championships—the 15 Years 125cc class and the 13–16 Years 250F class—highlighting his versatility across engine sizes.[1][26] These accomplishments provided a strong foundation for his professional entry in 2004.Professional beginnings (2004–2008)
Toby Price transitioned from his successful amateur background to professional motorcycle racing in 2004 at the age of 16, securing a factory contract with Kawasaki Australia and relocating from Hillston to Singleton, New South Wales, to pursue a full-time career.[27] Price initially focused on the Australian motocross and supercross series under the Kawasaki banner, where he showed promise but was plagued by injuries from training and racing incidents that limited his consistency through 2004–2007.[20][24] By 2008, after being released from the Kawasaki factory team due to ongoing injury issues, Price raced as an independent privateer, securing several top-10 finishes in major national events despite limited support, which highlighted his resilience and skill.[20] During this period, he began receiving early backing from KTM, laying the groundwork for a long-term partnership that would define his later career.[28]Professional motorcycle career
Breakthrough years (2009–2014)
In 2009, Toby Price transitioned from motocross and supercross to enduro racing, marking a pivotal shift in his career. As a rookie in the discipline, he won the Australian Off-Road Championship, defeating established competitors including a four-time world champion.[29] This victory earned him Australian Dirt Bike magazine's Rookie of the Year award, highlighting his rapid adaptation to longer-distance rally-style events.[3] Additionally, Price represented Australia at the International Six Days Enduro (ISDE) in Portugal, finishing 14th overall and as the fastest under-23 rider.[1] From 2010 to 2011, Price established himself as a dominant force in Australian rally raid events, securing multiple podium finishes in the national championships and related series. In 2010, after joining the KTM Off-Road Racing Team, he claimed the Australian Off-Road Championship, along with victories at the prestigious Finke Desert Race, Hattah Desert Race, and Australian Four Day Enduro.[1] The following year, despite a mid-season injury, he won rounds 2, 3, and 4 of the Australian Off-Road Championship, repeated his Hattah and Australian Four Day Enduro triumphs, and finished 9th overall in the national standings.[1] Internationally, Price placed 4th in the E2 class and 8th overall at the 2011 ISDE in Finland, demonstrating consistent performance on a global stage.[1] In 2012, Price continued his ascent with wins in the Pro Class at the Melbourne Enduro-X, the Finke Desert Race, the Hattah Desert Race, and the Australian Off-Road Championship, where he took 8 out of 10 rounds in the E3 class.[1] He also earned 2nd in the E3 class and 10th overall at the ISDE in Germany, despite racing with broken ribs.[1] The 2013 season saw him secure victories in rounds 2, 3, and 4 of the Australian Off-Road Championship, though injuries from an AMA Hare and Hound event limited his participation; he returned to finish 2nd at the Red Bull Day in the Dirt.[1] By 2014, Price had solidified his reputation as a top rally raid rider, capturing his fourth Australian Off-Road Championship title, along with wins at the Finke, Hattah, and the entire Western Australian Desert Tri-Series (Kumarina 500, Doorawarrah 500, and Indee 500).[1] His international breakthrough came with an 8th-place finish overall at the Rallye du Maroc, his debut in FIM Cross-Country Rallying, which showcased his potential in elite desert racing.[1] This performance, combined with an E3 class win and 2nd overall at the ISDE in Argentina, led to his selection for the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rally team ahead of the 2015 Dakar Rally.[30]2015 Dakar Rally
Toby Price entered the 2015 Dakar Rally as a debutant with the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team, having joined the squad in late 2014 following a strong eighth-place finish at the Rally of Morocco, which served as a key preparatory event.[2] His training regimen emphasized endurance building and navigation mastery, including sessions in Europe alongside five-time Dakar winner Marc Coma to adapt to the rally's complex roadbook systems.[31] Price also focused on physical conditioning to recover from a 2013 neck injury that fractured three vertebrae, incorporating targeted strength exercises to mitigate risks during the 9,097-kilometer South American route across Argentina, Chile, and Bolivia.[31] The rally's stages presented significant navigation challenges, with vast Andean deserts, high-altitude plateaus, and shifting sand dunes demanding precise roadbook interpretation amid variable weather and terrain. Price secured his first stage win on the penultimate Stage 12, a 707-kilometer marathon from Termas de Río Hondo to Rosario, leading from start to finish despite the demanding mixed surfaces.[32] Earlier, he notched a second-place finish on Stage 6 through the Atacama Desert's rocky paths and finished fourth on Stage 10, a high-altitude run from Calama to Salta featuring energy-sapping climbs and simpler but fast navigation sections.[33][34] These results included six top-five stage finishes overall, showcasing his ability to balance speed with careful route-finding in Bolivia's Uyuni Salt Flats and Argentina's pampas.[34] Price's tactical riding prioritized consistency and risk avoidance, riding conservatively to protect his vulnerable neck from impacts while steadily climbing the standings, ultimately finishing third overall—his debut podium and the best result for an Australian motorcycle rider since Andy Haydon's third place in 1998.[31] He crossed the line 1 hour, 15 minutes, and 37 seconds behind winner Marc Coma, having avoided major mechanical issues or crashes that sidelined many competitors.[32] This breakthrough performance built momentum for his title-winning effort the following year.[31]2016 Dakar Rally victory
The 2016 Dakar Rally, the 38th edition of the endurance race, commenced on January 4 in Asunción, Paraguay, and concluded on January 16 in Rosario, Argentina, spanning approximately 9,000 kilometers across 13 stages with one rest day in Salta, Argentina. The route traversed diverse terrains including sandy dunes, high-altitude Bolivian plateaus reaching over 4,700 meters, and rugged Andean mountains, testing riders' navigation, endurance, and mechanical reliability in extreme conditions.[35][36] Toby Price, riding for the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team on a KTM 450 Rally bike, delivered a dominant performance, securing five stage victories in stages 2, 5, 6, 8, and 9. He initially seized the overall lead after winning stage 2, a 757-kilometer timed section from Asunción to Villa Carlos Paz, edging out competitors by building a narrow advantage through precise navigation and consistent pacing. Although he dropped to third overall after stage 5—a demanding 689-kilometer loop near Jujuy featuring rocky paths and river crossings—Price rebounded strongly, claiming second place after stage 6 and reclaiming the lead with his stage 8 win, a 786-kilometer marathon stage that eliminated bike assistance and amplified strategic risks.[37][38][39] Throughout the event, Price defended his position against key rivals, including early leader Sam Sunderland of Britain, who held the top spot until a crash forced his withdrawal on stage 7, and consistent challengers like Stefan Svitko of Slovakia and Pablo Quintanilla of Chile. Price managed his lead meticulously in the latter stages, extending it to over 37 minutes by stage 12 despite navigation challenges and mechanical stresses, ultimately crossing the finish line in Rosario with a total elapsed time of 48 hours, 9 minutes, and 15 seconds—39 minutes and 41 seconds ahead of Svitko in second place, securing KTM's 15th consecutive motorcycle category victory.[40][41][42] Price's triumph marked a historic milestone as the first Australian to win the Dakar Rally in the motorcycle category, celebrated with a podium ceremony in Rosario where he was joined by team members and fans waving Australian flags amid cheers from the crowd. The victory elevated Australian motorsport on the global stage, inspiring a surge in interest for off-road racing domestically and highlighting the nation's emerging talent in endurance events.[43][36]2017–2018 seasons
Following his 2016 Dakar Rally victory, Toby Price entered the 2017 edition as the defending champion, aiming to secure back-to-back wins. He claimed victory in Stage 2, taking the overall lead briefly, but suffered a severe crash on Stage 4 while navigating a challenging riverbed section approximately 45 kilometers from the finish. The incident resulted in a compound fracture of his left femur, broken into four pieces, forcing him to retire from the rally and undergo emergency surgery in La Paz, Bolivia, where a rod was inserted to stabilize the bone.[44][45][46] Price's recovery was arduous, involving initial hospitalization in Bolivia complicated by a seizure likely triggered by the trauma and pain medication, followed by transfer to Australia for continued rehabilitation. He spent approximately five to six months in intensive rehab, focusing on regaining strength and mobility in his leg before resuming training. By June 2017, Price made his competitive return at the Finke Desert Race, competing in the cars category alongside co-driver Luke Hendry in a Chevrolet-powered Trophy Truck; they finished fifth on Day 1 but retired on Day 2 due to mechanical issues. This marked a cautious step back into racing as he built confidence post-injury.[47][48][49] Entering the 2018 Dakar Rally just six weeks after fully resuming bike training, Price delivered an impressive comeback, securing two stage victories—Stage 12 and Stage 13—while navigating the grueling 14-stage event across Peru, Bolivia, and Argentina. Despite the lingering effects of his injury, he maintained consistent pace, crossing the finish line in third place overall, 1 hour, 5 minutes, and 52 seconds behind winner Matthias Walkner, demonstrating remarkable resilience in his first full rally since the crash.[32][50][51] Beyond the Dakar, Price's 2018 season highlighted his recovery with dominant performances in Australian off-road events, including a record sixth victory at the Finke Desert Race in the bikes category, where he set the fastest times on both days to finish over five minutes ahead of second place. He became the first Australian FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Champion, highlighted by a second-place finish in the Desafío Ruta 40, and contributed to KTM's team title through strong showings in rounds like the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge.[52][53][54][3]2019 Dakar Rally victory
The 2019 Dakar Rally marked a significant shift in format, being held entirely within Peru for the first time in its history, spanning 5,000 kilometers across the country's coastal deserts and towering sand dunes, which tested riders' navigation and endurance in unfamiliar high-altitude and soft-sand conditions.[55] Australian rider Toby Price, competing for the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team on a KTM 450 Rally bike, adapted effectively to these new challenges despite entering the event with a fractured scaphoid in his right wrist from a training crash in late December 2018.[56][57] Price rode with remarkable consistency across the 10 stages, starting from the ceremonial kickoff in Lima on January 7 and navigating punishing specials like the marathon stage 6 through the Atacama Desert.[58] He remained in the top five overall early on, but the race dynamics shifted dramatically on stage 8 (San Juan de Marcona to Pisco), a 331-kilometer dune-heavy test where leader Ricky Brabec retired due to an engine failure on his Honda, allowing Price to inherit the lead after finishing third on the day behind winner Matthias Walkner.[59] From there, Price defended his position through the final stages, clinching his sole stage victory on the decisive 10th leg back to Lima—a 132-kilometer sprint where he finished 2 minutes and 21 seconds ahead of the field—while closest challenger Pablo Quintanilla crashed out late in the special.[60][61] This performance secured Price's second Dakar Rally triumph, finishing in a total time of 33 hours, 57 minutes, and 16 seconds, 9 minutes and 3 seconds ahead of teammate Walkner in second and 31 minutes and 42 seconds clear of third-placed Laurent Luxa, marking KTM's 18th consecutive manufacturer victory in the bikes category.[62] The win carried deep emotional weight as a defense of his 2016 title, achieved through sheer grit amid ongoing wrist pain that required him to ride one-handed at times, underscoring his mental fortitude and solidifying his status as one of the rally's elite amid a field depleted by injuries and retirements.[63][56] This peak achievement bridged into the disrupted seasons ahead, including the 2020 relocation to Saudi Arabia amid global pandemic challenges.[64]Later motorcycle years (2020–2023)
Following his 2019 Dakar Rally victory, Toby Price continued to deliver consistent high-level performances in rally-raid events from 2020 to 2023, remaining a cornerstone of the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team amid the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, which relocated the Dakar Rally to Saudi Arabia and altered event formats. In the 2020 Dakar Rally, the inaugural edition held entirely in Saudi Arabia due to global travel restrictions, Price started as the defending champion and secured victories in stage 1 and stage 5, demonstrating his speed on varied terrain including dunes and rocky tracks.[65][66] Despite mechanical issues in stage 2 that cost him significant time and dropped him down the leaderboard temporarily, he mounted a strong recovery to finish third overall, 24 minutes and 6 seconds behind winner Ricky Brabec.[66][67] The 2021 season presented further challenges with ongoing pandemic protocols limiting team support and event logistics. Price excelled early in the Dakar Rally, winning the prologue, stage 1, and stage 3 en route to taking the overall lead after stage 6.[68][69] However, a heavy crash in stage 9 resulted in a shoulder injury, forcing his withdrawal from the event.[70] Returning to competition later that year at the Rallye du Maroc—his first race since the injury—Price finished in the top 10 overall, signaling his resilience and the team's stable preparation amid restricted testing opportunities.[71] In 2022, Price maintained his competitive edge at the Dakar Rally, claiming victory in stage 10—a demanding 376 km loop with navigation-heavy sections—and finishing 10th overall after navigating a field impacted by injuries and retirements among top rivals.[32] He followed this with a solid fourth-place finish at the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, the second round of the FIM World Rally-Raid Championship, where he posted competitive stage times on fast desert tracks while adapting to evolving bike setups within the KTM team.[6] Price's form peaked in 2023, where he achieved second place overall at the Dakar Rally—just 43 seconds behind winner Kevin Benavides—bolstered by two stage wins that showcased his tactical riding in the empty quarter dunes.[72][32] Later that year, he capped the season by winning the Rallye du Maroc, securing three stage victories and the overall title in the event's grueling Moroccan terrain, though it fell short of clinching the FIM World Rally-Raid Championship by four points.[73][74] These results underscored his sustained excellence and the continuity of his partnership with KTM heading into his announced final motorcycle season in 2024.2024 season
In the 2024 Dakar Rally, Toby Price competed in the motorcycle category for the tenth time, riding for the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team. He delivered a consistent performance across the 12 stages, securing a seventh-place finish on stage two and top-five results on several others, including fifth on the penultimate stage.[75][76][77] Price ultimately placed fifth overall in the bike classification, marking his eighth top-10 finish in the event.[78] Following the rally, KTM announced it would not renew Price's contract, ending his long association with the manufacturer after the 2024 season.[79] In March 2024, Price confirmed the decision, noting that the Dakar had been his final event on a KTM motorcycle.[80] Later that October, he revealed his transition to the automobile category, partnering with former Dakar winner Sam Sunderland as navigator for the Overdrive Racing team in a Toyota Hilux T1+ prototype for the 2025 edition.[81] Reflecting on his motorcycle career at the Dakar, Price highlighted completing ten participations with six podium finishes, including victories in 2016 and 2019, as a significant achievement before shifting focus to four-wheeled competition.[32]Transition to automobile racing
2024 Baja 500 victory
In June 2024, Toby Price achieved his first major victory in off-road automobile racing by winning the overall and Trophy Truck class at the 56th BFGoodrich Tires SCORE Baja 500, a 482.91-mile desert race starting and finishing in Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico.[82] The event, part of the SCORE World Desert Championship, featured notoriously rough terrain including rocky sections, high-speed silt beds, and technical whoops, testing the limits of vehicles and drivers over nearly nine hours of continuous racing.[83] Price, serving as the driver of record in the No. 46 Quad Lock Mason Motorsports Chevrolet Silverado Trophy Truck, was supported by co-driver Paul Weel, the team owner, and American navigator Brent Bauman, forming the all-international Team Australia lineup.[84] The team's preparation was marked by significant adversity, as their original truck had burned down just four days before the event, forcing a rapid replacement and intense last-minute efforts by the crew.[84] Despite this, the race unfolded flawlessly for Price and his teammates, who secured pole position by winning the Method Race Wheels Prologue by a mere two seconds and led the 782-kilometer point-to-point course from start to finish without mechanical failures, punctures, or other incidents.[84] They completed the demanding loop in 9 hours, 20 minutes, and 32 seconds, finishing seven minutes ahead of second-place finisher Tavo Vildosola's No. 21 Trophy Truck team.[84] Price praised the BFGoodrich tires for their durability, noting that the front tires ran the entire distance without issues, contributing to the "perfect day" that propelled them to victory.[84] This triumph marked Price's debut success in four-wheeled desert racing, leveraging his extensive motorcycle rallying experience to navigate the Baja's challenging landscape effectively alongside Weel's strategic co-driving and Bauman's navigation.[83] The win not only ended a string of misfortunes for Team Australia in prior Baja events but also solidified Price's transition from two wheels to cars, building crucial momentum toward his 2025 Dakar Rally automobile debut.[82]2025 Dakar Rally
Toby Price made his automobile racing debut at the 2025 Dakar Rally, competing in the T1+ category aboard a Toyota Hilux prepared by Overdrive Racing, with former motorcycle Dakar winner Sam Sunderland serving as his co-driver.[32][85] The duo's partnership leveraged their shared background as two-time bike victors, fostering effective communication during navigation and strategy sessions.[10] Price started strongly, finishing ninth overall after the 413 km Stage 1 from Al-Ula to Al-Hasa, just over three minutes behind winner Mattias Ekström.[86] He maintained momentum through the demanding 48-hour chrono marathon Stage 2, placing ninth on the stage and climbing to fourth in the general classification by its conclusion.[87][88] Stage 3 brought challenges with overheating issues in their Toyota, yet they held sixth overall despite the mechanical setback.[89][90] However, Stage 4 proved disastrous due to an axle failure that forced extensive repairs, costing them over five hours and dropping Price to 31st in the overall standings.[7][91] The pair rebounded on Stage 5, finishing 11th fastest and recovering to 22nd overall, demonstrating resilience amid the rally's punishing 428 km of dunes and tracks.[92] Transitioning from motorcycle navigation—where Price relied on personal instincts and minimal assistance—to the car's complex dynamics and reliance on Sunderland's roadbook expertise presented significant adaptation hurdles, including adjusting to the vehicle's weight distribution and team-based decision-making.[88] On January 12, 2025, following Stage 5, Price and Sunderland withdrew from the rally on medical grounds after Sunderland sustained a concussion during the previous day's exertions.[93][94] The decision prioritized health, ending Price's promising car debut prematurely but highlighting his competitive pace in the early stages.[7]Other 2025 events
Following his withdrawal from the 2025 Dakar Rally due to co-driver Sam Sunderland's concussion, Toby Price focused on building experience in off-road car events, emphasizing improved vehicle reliability and navigation under pressure.[93] In September 2025, Price competed in the SCORE Baja 400, securing pole position in the Trophy Truck class with a qualifying time of 3 minutes and 56 seconds on the 3.3-mile course.[95] Despite leading much of the 400-mile race alongside co-driver Paul Weel in the No. 46 Mason Motorsports Chevrolet Silverado and dealing with transmission concerns that slowed them, they finished second overall and in class.[96][97] Price made his debut in the Australian Rally Championship (ARC) at the Forest Rally in Western Australia in May 2025, entering the Subaru WRX Challenge class with support from sponsor Information Proficiency.[98] Driving a Subaru WRX with co-driver Holly Kilbride for Maximum Motorsport, he won the WRX Challenge category, marking a strong introduction to gravel rally stages after his off-road motorcycle background.[99] Price achieved top-five finishes in Trophy Truck at key SCORE World Desert Championship events in 2025, including fourth overall at the San Felipe 250 in April and second at the Baja 500 in June.[97] At the Baja 1000 in November 2025, he qualified third, led for much of the 854-mile race, but ran out of fuel 25 miles from the finish, dropping to 15th overall and in class.[100][101] These results highlighted his growing adaptation to four-wheel racing, with consistent contention for podiums despite mechanical and logistical challenges, positioning him as a competitive force in the series.Sponsorships
Primary sponsors
Toby Price's career has been backed by key primary sponsors that have provided financial support and branding across his transitions from motorcycle to automobile racing. Red Bull has served as a long-term personal sponsor since 2015, aligning with Price through energy drink endorsements and event participation in both rally and off-road disciplines.[5] Alpinestars has been another enduring partner, supplying protective gear and apparel for his racing endeavors since at least the mid-2010s.[102] During his motorcycle racing phase, KTM acted as Price's primary factory team sponsor from 2009 until the end of the 2024 season, equipping him with motorcycles for major events like the Dakar Rally and FIM Cross-Country Rallies.[28] As Price shifted to automobile racing, Toyota became a central sponsor starting in 2024, providing the Hilux T1+ vehicle through the Overdrive Racing team for rallies including the 2025 Dakar Rally.[103] As of November 2025, Price has joined the factory Toyota Gazoo Racing W2RC team for the 2026 Dakar Rally.[104] Method Race Wheels joined as a key backer for his trophy truck programs, supporting entries in SCORE International events such as the Baja 500 and Baja 1000 qualifiers from 2021 onward.[105] In 2025, Price expanded his sponsorship portfolio with Australian-based partners, including Peter Kittle Motor Company, which supports his Toyota racing efforts and personal vehicles as an official ambassador. Information Proficiency also emerged as a sponsor that year, funding his debut in the Australian Rally Championship at the Forest Rally.[98]Equipment and teams
Toby Price's professional motorcycle racing career featured a progression from production off-road models to advanced rally prototypes, primarily with KTM machinery. He began competing on KTM motorcycles as early as 2010, securing multiple Australian off-road titles on stock-derived bikes before advancing to factory-supported setups. By 2015, Price had transitioned to the KTM 450 Rally prototype, a lightweight, single-cylinder enduro machine with a 450cc SOHC engine, reinforced chassis, and rally-specific navigation systems, which he used for his Dakar debut.[106] This model evolved annually with input from factory riders like Price, incorporating aerodynamic fairings, extended fuel capacity for desert stages, and durable suspension tuned for high-speed off-road conditions; he rode variants of the KTM 450 Rally through 2024, including custom configurations for Dakar Rally demands such as GPS integration and impact-resistant components.[107][108] From 2016 to 2024, Price raced exclusively with the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team, a premier rally outfit that provided full technical support, including on-site mechanics, data analysis, and prototype development for events like the FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship.[28] The team's resources enabled iterative upgrades to his KTM 450 Rally, such as enhanced cooling systems and lightweight composites, contributing to his two Dakar victories and 2018 world title.[109] In his shift to automobile racing, Price piloted a Mason Motorsports-built Chevrolet Silverado Trophy Truck for the 2024 Baja 500, an all-wheel-drive unlimited-class vehicle featuring a JGRMX-prepared V8 engine, sequential transmission, and long-travel independent suspension designed for high-speed desert terrain.[110] Equipped with BFGoodrich Baja T/A KR3 tires, this custom Trophy Truck allowed Price to claim overall victory in the event alongside co-driver Paul Weel.[97] For the 2025 Dakar Rally and subsequent seasons, he joined Overdrive Racing, competing in a Toyota Hilux T1+ prototype—a FIA-homologated rally raid car with a turbocharged V8 engine, carbon-fiber bodywork, and advanced four-wheel-drive system optimized for extreme endurance.[32] This partnership marks Price's entry into professional car teams, with Overdrive providing engineering expertise for T1+ class adaptations, including reinforced roll cages and fuel-efficient mapping.[85] Throughout his career, Price's equipment has been sponsor-provided, emphasizing reliability and performance enhancements tailored to rally raid challenges.[5]Career achievements
Major titles
Toby Price has achieved significant success in international rally raid and off-road motorcycle racing, highlighted by his two overall victories at the Dakar Rally in 2016 and 2019.[5][32] In addition to these wins, he has secured six podium finishes across ten participations in the event, including third places in 2015, 2018, and 2020, second place in 2023, and two overall victories.[111][112] Price is also a former FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Champion, claiming the title in 2018 after winning the Rallye du Maroc, the final round of the series. Throughout his career, he has recorded multiple stage victories in FIM-sanctioned events, including five stage wins during his 2016 Dakar triumph and additional successes in world rally-raid rounds.[2][28] On the national level, Price is a five-time Australian Off-Road Champion, with victories spanning his early professional years before transitioning to international competition, and a four-time Australian National Enduro Champion.[113][20][1] His dominance in Australian off-road racing also includes record nine wins at the Finke Desert Race, underscoring his prowess in endurance events.[114]Dakar Rally results
Toby Price competed in the Dakar Rally's motorcycle category from 2015 to 2024, completing 10 starts and securing 6 podium finishes along with 8 overall top-10 results.[32] His performances included two overall victories and multiple stage wins, contributing to his reputation as one of the event's top riders.[32] The following table summarizes Price's year-by-year results in the Dakar Rally across both motorcycle and automobile categories:| Year | Category | Overall Position | Stages Won | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Bike | 3rd | 1 | Finished the rally.[32] |
| 2016 | Bike | 1st | 5 | Overall winner.[32] |
| 2017 | Bike | DNF | 1 | Abandoned on Stage 4 due to mechanical issues.[32] |
| 2018 | Bike | 3rd | 2 | Finished the rally.[32] |
| 2019 | Bike | 1st | 1 | Overall winner.[32] |
| 2020 | Bike | 3rd | 2 | Finished the rally.[32] |
| 2021 | Bike | DNF | 2 | Abandoned on Stage 9 due to injury.[32] |
| 2022 | Bike | 10th | 1 | Finished the rally.[32] |
| 2023 | Bike | 2nd | 2 | Finished the rally.[32] |
| 2024 | Bike | 5th | 0 | Finished the rally.[32] |
| 2025 | Car | DNF | 0 | Withdrew after Stage 5 due to co-driver Sam Sunderland's concussion sustained earlier in the rally.[7] |
FIM Cross-Country Rallies and W2RC
Toby Price has been a prominent competitor in the FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship, the precursor to the modern World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC), since his debut in international rally-raid events in the mid-2010s. Riding primarily for the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team, Price has utilized these multi-stage desert races to hone his navigation and endurance skills, often serving as crucial preparation for major events like the Dakar Rally. His results in these championships highlight his consistency and speed across diverse terrains, from the sandy dunes of the Middle East to the rocky tracks of North Africa.[73] Price's breakthrough in FIM-sanctioned rallies came in 2016, when he secured overall victories at both the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge and the Rallye du Maroc, contributing to a third-place finish in the FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship standings that year. He repeated his success at the Rallye du Maroc in 2018, clinching the event win with victories in the prologue and two stages, which propelled him to the FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship title with 91 points, six ahead of runner-up Pablo Quintanilla. In 2019, Price earned multiple stage wins at the Rallye du Maroc despite finishing outside the overall top three there, helping secure a podium position in the season's FIM Cross-Country Rallies standings. His strong performances continued into the W2RC era, with a standout 2023 season where he won the Rallye du Maroc outright after two stage victories and a consistent run, finishing second in the overall W2RC bike category with 62 points, just four behind champion Luciano Benavides.[115][116][117][118][119][73][120] Throughout his career, Price has amassed four event wins and more than 15 podium finishes in the FIM Cross-Country Rallies and W2RC calendar, demonstrating his adaptability to high-speed sand sections and technical navigation challenges. Notable podiums at the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge span from 2013 to 2023, including third-place finishes in multiple editions alongside his 2016 victory. These achievements underscore his role as a top contender in the global rally-raid scene, with three of his wins coming at the Rallye du Maroc alone (2016, 2018, 2023).[2][121][116]| Event | Year | Result | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge | 2016 | 1st | dirtbikes.com |
| Rallye du Maroc | 2016 | 1st | rally.hondaracingcorporation.com |
| Rallye du Maroc | 2018 | 1st | fim-moto.com |
| Rallye du Maroc | 2023 | 1st | ktm.com |

