Dakar Rally winner Toby Price is back in the saddle next week after a two-month Red Bull Racing victory lap of the world which ends at this weekend's Australian F1 Grand Prix in Melbourne.
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Price was recognised for his Dakar Rally victory at the inaugural Australian Motor Sport Hall of Fame evening on Saturday night at which Kurri Kurri’s Casey Stoner was among the first 30 legends of the sport inducted.
Price flies to Abu Dhabi early next week to prepare for the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge which in the first round of the FIA World Cup for Cross Country Rallies and the FIM Cross Country Rallies World Championship.
While he will almost certainly join the hall of fame ranks along with Kurri Kurri’s world supercross chamipon Chad Reed when they retire, he joked that he hoped being part of the glittering night didn’t signal he was close to the end of his career.
Stoner, who won two MotoGP World Championships, is joined by Australian legends from Formula 1, circuit racing, speedway, rallying, off-road, drag racing, karting and motorcycling formed part of the inaugural hall of fame group.
Speaking during a flying visit back to Maitland before the grand prix, Price said he was looking forward to a return to racing after a hectic round of engagements post his 2016 Dakar Rally win in January.
“It really has been a whirlwind. I’ve only had five days back in Maitland during that time,” he said during a two-hour training session at a Maitland gym.
“I just catch up with family and friends and get along to the gym to keep my fitness up.
“I don’t think I could have imagined what it was going to be like after winning Dakar.
“I’ve had a ball, but it’s been full on.”
Price caught up with fellow Red Bull Racing team members, Aussie grand prix driver Daniel Ricciardo and V8 Supercar champions Jamie Whincup and Craig Lowndes.
“It’s going to be a great event. They have all been so supportive of me, particularly in the lead-up to Dakar,” he said.
Price said he was particularly looking forward to catching up with former Aussie grand prix driver Mark Webber who shares a passion for off-road motorycle racing.
“He’s actually a keen KTM man, so he is been a supporter for a long while,” he said.
Price said he would have the chance to get some serious practice on his bike in the sand dunes before the week-long Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge starts on April 1.
The desert challenge crosses some of the most demanding desert terrain on earth, with competitive stages winding on for more than 250km across giant dunes, testing man and machine.
