Desert Racing

KTM Takes AIm At More Finke Outright and Class Success With A Four Rider Attack

Posted:

Wednesday, June 8th, 2016

7:05 PM

There‰Ûªs nothing quite like Finke week in Alice Springs, and KTM Australia‰Ûªs Desert Racing Team will take the time to say hello to a heap of excited race fans right before taking on their loftiest goals yet in this year‰Ûªs Tatt‰Ûªs Finke Desert Race.

The team - Red Bull Factory KTM Rally team rider and four-time Finke legend Toby Price, 2015 runner-up Tye Simmonds and two-time Vice Champion David Walsh ‰ÛÒ will take part in the meet and greet at Desert Edge Motorcycles in Alice Springs on Thursday Night.

Fans can hit the trio of KTM aces up for a poster or an autograph, and there will even be limited edition DAKAR merchandise available to purchase.

This weekend however, it will be time for the most successful Australian desert racing team of recent years to get down to business, in the famous 480-kilometre, two-day blast from Alice Springs to Finke and back.

The big news is that Dakar Rally winner Price is aiming to become only the second competitor ever to attempt the ‰ÛÏIronman‰Û

Price's two team mates Simmonds and Walsh will be giving it every last drop to ensure that Price doesn't achieve his goal, as both are hungry to etch their names on the coveted trophy for the first time. If either of the three factory KTM riders wins, it will be the seventh Finke Desert race victory for the squad in eight years.

‰ÛÏI'm feeling like a local after being up here for a couple of weeks." Simmonds said. "I get on really well with my teammate David Walsh and he's really looked after me.

"I definitely feel a lot better about the race than I did last year, when I had no idea what was coming my way, but this year we feel like we're definitely a lot further ahead. To be honest I can't wait to get Prologue done and get racing. I'm looking forward to sticking it to these boys and hopefully being up front.

"I'm a bit jealous of Toby's gig this year, but he‰Ûªs definitely the man for the job. Hopefully he has a good run on the bike ‰Û_and finishes right behind me!

"I'm looking forward to the meet and greet; it‰Ûªs the fans who make the sport what it is and spend countless hours standing out there in the sun, cheering us on and celebrating.‰Û

KTM‰Ûªs combination of innovative design, proven reliability and passion for desert racing is reflected in the entry list for this year's race, with the 172 KTMs entered exactly double the 86 machines of the next-best represented brand.

Another KTM rider hoping to make his mark in the event will be former pro motocrosser turned off-road racer Jack Simpson, who currently leads the AORC E1 category, and will race a KTM250SX-F in the quarter-litre four-stroke class.

‰ÛÏIn the past I was racing motocross and never had the time or the chance to do Finke, but this is the year to have a crack." Simpson stated. "I just want to show my colours - that I'm not scared of going fast.

"The speeds are just crazy fast. I was riding the 500, and you can get up to 180-odd clicks on one of them, and even my 250 does 160kmh. That‰Ûªs fast.

"I've only ever done 90-100k on a motocross track, and when you're doing 160 down a corrugated dirt track, your eyes just bounce, but now that I‰Ûªve been here a few days, you start to get used to it and you see a lot more. It‰Ûªs just getting your eye in to the speed of the race - that‰Ûªs the thing.‰Û