Rotorwork

Toby you are a champion & you've done Australia proud. Creating history in the process. A win well deserved. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-01-16/toby-price-wins-dakar-rally/7093490 Print Email Facebook Twitter More Dakar Rally: Toby Price wins motorcycle division in Australia's first-ever triumph Updated 40 minutes ago PHOTO: Australian rider Toby Price rides during the 2016 Dakar Rally (Toby Price Racing/Facebook) RELATED STORY: Toby Price close to securing Dakar Rally win RELATED STORY: Aussie Price sitting pretty after penultimate Dakar Rally stage MAP: Bolivia Toby Price has become the first Australian to win any category of the gruelling Dakar Rally, taking out the motorcycle division in this year's race after placing third on debut last year. The 28-year-old from Newcastle dominated the contest, finishing 39 minutes, 41 seconds ahead of Slovakia KTM team-mate Stefan Svitko. He finished fourth in the 180km final stage in Argentina to clinch the victory, a 15th Dakar win in a row for Austrian maker KTM. French Dakar veteran Stephane Peterhansel claimed victory in the car section of the contest for the sixth time since 2004, equalling his tally of six motorcycle wins. Speaking before his son's victory, Price's father John Price said the triumph had been years in the making. "Toby started racing when he was four years of age, and it has always been his dream to be the best in the world," he said. "And he is definitely showing he has got the talent to be the best in the world." Mr Price said the Dakar Rally was considered one of the most difficult events in the world. "Words can't describe it," he said. "It's such a hard event, and there have been numerous competitors from all over the world, and a lot from Australia who have all tried but, unfortunately, they've all fallen short."

One more Stage to come Hoping that Toby can create history Well done mate. Fingers crossed for tomorrow. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-01-16/toby-price-pushes-lead-further-on-penultimate-dakar-rally-stage/7092668

Keep it up Toby Not far to go. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-01-15/aussie-toby-price-nearing-dakar-rally-victory-after-stage-11/7090294 Toby Price is just two stages away from a historic Dakar Rally victory after extending his lead to more than 35 minutes in the overall motorcycle standings. The Australian rider finished second as stage 11 was halted prematurely with Price just 18 seconds behind Frenchman Antoine Meo. The strong ride in stifling heat allowed him to add a further 12 minutes to his overall margin over Stefan Svitko and he now leads the race by 35 minutes and 23 seconds. "I can't smell victory yet, not yet," Price said. "I won't smell victory until I cross the finishing line on the last day. "We're another day closer, but for sure, it's been a hard one." The 28-year-old from Singleton in New South Wales' Hunter region said he struggled to get airflow as the mercury soared in the last 50 to 80 kilometres. "It's been hard on the bikes today. There's been a lot of hot weather," Price said. "The bike is still going really well, there's no water leaking or anything. "It still feels strong, so we're in a good spot." With a commanding lead, Price said he would look to minimise risks as he hopes to cross the finish line in Rosario on Sunday (AEDT) as the first Australian to win the gruelling race in any category. "We've made a bit of time on the overall second placed rider which is our main goal and hopefully the next two days we can take it a little bit easier," Price said. Former race leader Paulo Goncalves crashed out of the rally after a fall early in the day. Price, in his second Dakar, will now turn his attention to the 481-kilometre penultimate stage through semi-mountainous regions from San Juan to Villa Carlos Paz. In the car division, Stephane Peterhansel leads by more than 50 minutes despite finishing fourth behind Qatar's Nasser Al-Attiyah on stage 11.

Still number one Toby has won stage 9 & leads by 24 minutes Well done Toby http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-01-13/aussie-toby-price-extends-dakar-rally-lead/7085670 Dakar Rally: Australian Toby Price extends overall motorbike lead with stage-nine victory Updated 25 minutes ago PHOTO: Australian Toby Price en route to victory on stage nine. (AFP: Franck Fife) MAP: Argentina Australian Toby Price has pushed his overall lead in the motorbike category of the Dakar Rally to almost half an hour with victory on stage nine. In his quest to become the first Australian to win in any category of the gruelling race, Price scored his fifth stage win as he comfortable beat Argentine Honda rider Kevin Benavides to the line. Price won the stage by seven minutes from Benavides and finished 10 minutes faster than third-quickest Stefan Svitko. The 28-year-old New South Welshman has a lead of 24 minutes and 47 seconds over Svitko, with Chile's Pablo Quintanilla almost eight minutes further back. "We've got through pretty good," Price said. "We made a couple of little mistakes around the 100km mark. "We got a little bit lost but, luckily, we found the way point and got ourselves back on track and going again. "It was just good that we didn't get lost. It was definitely tricky navigation today." Organisers stopped the race after the second checkpoint due to extreme heat, meaning Price was unable to fully capitalise on his dominant showing and his main rival, Portuguese rider Paulo Goncalves was given a lifeline by the possible application of a grouped time. Goncalves was three minutes behind Price for the stage when a branch pierced his radiator on the first leg of the marathon stage, where riders are not allowed assistance from their crew or access to parts. Meanwhile, Carlos Sainz moved atop the overall standings by winning the stage as Sebastien Loeb fell further behind after struggling in sandy conditions. Spanish veteran Sainz, driving a Peugeot, held off the Minis of Erik van Loon and Mikko Hirvonen by 10 seconds and 17 seconds respectively. "It was a very demanding course, physically speaking, with a lot of off-road, navigation and vegetation," Sainz said. Stephane Peterhansel, who finished 9:12 behind Peugeot team-mate Sainz, lost the command of the overall standings to the Spaniard, and now trails by 7:03. The rally ends on Sunday morning (AEDT) in Rosario, Argentina. ABC/wires

Stage 8. Toby has won the Stage & is in the outright number 1 position. Excellent, keep it going. Regards RW

Sadly David Bowie has passed away, two days ago Bowie released his final album Blackstar. A sad day for music fans world wide & up in the Space Station. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-01-11/the-world-reacts-to-david-bowie-death/7081978

A rest day Toby is second and has his eyes on the podium. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-01-11/dakar-rally-toby-price-aiming-for-podium-finish/7080006

Not sure if the bikes are not racing today or for the rest of the Dakar, (severe thunderstorms so hopefully temporary) Toby is second overall Sad to see another spectator has been killed, hit by one of the cars. From the Dakar web site, for Stage 7 The motorcycle race has been stopped for good due to the conditions out there.

Another win Excellent http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-01-09/australia-toby-price-scores-third-stage-win-at-dakar-rally/7077912

Keep it up Toby Well done. Australian Toby Price has won the fifth stage of the Dakar Rally to move into third place in the motorbike standings. Price, who won the second stage, is competing in the race for just the second time after finishing third last year. The 28-year-old finished the stage between Jujuy in Argentina and Uyuni in Bolivia in four hours, three minutes and 44 seconds, edging French Red Bull KTM Factory team-mate Antoine Meo by two minutes and 21 seconds before a five-minute penalty dropped Meo back to eighth. That allowed two more KTM riders, Slovnaft's Stefan Svitko (4:06:17) and Red Bull's Matthias Walkner (4:06:24), to finish second and third. "This marathon stage was definitely difficult. Today was a little bit tricky with the navigation. I had to stay on top of the game," Price said. "I caught a couple of other guys and got in some dust. I made a couple of little errors in the end there, because I was a little too worried to take my eyes off the road. It was a pretty crazy track." Slovakia's Svitko is currently two seconds ahead of Price in the overall standings, with Honda's Paulo Goncalves a further 105 seconds ahead, despite finishing 8:56 behind Price on stage five. Meanwhile, nine-time world rally champion Sebastien Loeb continued to make light work of his Dakar debut by claiming his third stage win on the gruelling event. The French driver, behind the wheel of a Peugeot, took the win to extend his lead in the overall standings. Loeb won the 327-kilometre timed run in 3:32:34sec with team-mates Carlos Sainz and Stephane Peterhansel completing a sweep for the French manufacturer. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-01-08/australian-toby-price-wins-fifth-dakar-stage-into-third-overall/7075616

Thanks for the update Dazza http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-01-05/australian-toby-price-wins-dakar-rally-motorcycling-second-stage/7067596

From ABC http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-01-04/dakar-first-stage-cancelled-due-to-rain/7065738 Car & Drone Prologue where 8 spectators injured hit by a race vehicle is not good.

Good one Dazza KTM X 2 Noticed today that they had some drones doing the filming. Hope they keep the drones & the helicopters separated. Regards R W

Just a reminder that the Dakar Rally is back on SBS daily. With out of this world aerial photography from the helicopters & the occassional glimpse of the massive aerial transport logistics at the various base camps. This year it is held in Bolivia & Argentina over the next 16 days. Australian Toby Price is on a Red Bull KTM bike. Good luck Toby. Regards RW