MATTHIAS WALKER, THE 2018
DAKAR WINNER, FOUGHT
THROUGH TO 2ND PLACE.
PHOTO: MARCELO MARAGNI/
RED BULL CONTENT POOL
he 2019 Dakar Rally concluded with
Toby Price defying the odds to take
the Austrian manufacturer’s 18th
consecutive victory as part of an all-Red
Bull KTM Factory Racing podium. Matthias
Walkner and Sam Sunderland battled to
second and third positions aboard 450 Rally
factory machines.
Perhaps one of the toughest Dakar races
yet with over 5000 kilometres travelled in
Peru over 10 stages, the battle of the terrain
and the competition provided close racing
right until the end of the final day. While
there was initially doubt that Price would be
able to compete in the 2019 edition of the
event due to a broken wrist sustained just
over one month ago, the racer’s pure grit,
determination and skill saw the Australian
take an emotional victory.
Heading into the final day of the 41st
edition of the event as the race leader Price,
who was crowned the FIM Cross-Country
Rallies World Champion in October 2018,
knew for the 112-kilometre timed special
he had to give his all. With his nearest rival
falling just 10 kilometres into the stage, the
31-year-old pushed on to ultimately claim
his second Dakar victory – repeating the
success he first enjoyed in 2016.
Austrian racer and 2018 Dakar winner,
Matthias Walkner, was pleased to conclude
the event in second position having
sustained an ankle injury earlier in the
race. Walkner battled through the pain
right until the chequered flag with two
stage wins to his name earning his place on
the podium. Teammate Sam Sunderland,
who rode solidly throughout the event
whilst also clinching two stage wins, was
promoted to third overall at the close of the
rally following the removal of a one-hour
time penalty given earlier in the event. The
British racer’s result made it a Red Bull KTM
Factory Racing one-two-three, with five stage
wins in total for the team, while Austrian
manufactured machinery took the top five
overall positions.