It’s pretty safe to say that Motorex KTM Off-Road’s Toby Price is in control of the Australian Off-Road Championships after a dominating ride at rounds three and four in Wonthaggi, Victoria.

Price smashed both days outright ahead of Matthew Phillips on the Saturday, then Daniel Milner on the Sunday. The two young guns of the Ballard’s Off-Road Team threw everything they had at Price in the extremely tough conditions.

“You should have seen it, one of the two sprint loops cut up like nothing I’ve ever seen!” Milner explained. “There were knee-deep powder ruts that’d bog your bike down, as well as killer square-edge bumps at the exit of each rut. You had no where to go and no choice but to hit them hard – it was so tough on the body!”

Unfortunately for Hollis, it was the last place on earth you’d want to be racing with fatigue. For the defending AORC champion to finish sixth Outright on Saturday was already out of character, but to slide back to 17th Outright on Sunday was proof something was wrong.

Toby Price has been the standout so far in AORC 2012 aboard the 500 EXC. Image: Adam Riemann.

“I don’t know what happened man,” told me. “I woke up feeling tired before I even started on Saturday and just couldn’t shake the lethargic feeling all day. I got a good sleep Saturday night and woke up feeling okay, but I just went downhill and couldn’t ride. It was really frustrating to not be competing for Outright, but I just circulated to try and salvage whatever points I could.”

As for Price, he’s now ready to settle some unfinished business in the American GNCC and has booked tickets to fly out of Sydney at the end of the week to go bunk with Josh Strang in prep for the next round.

Toby’s previous stints at the GNCC last year were plagued with upsets from the get go, after not having suitable suspension and bike set up for the gnarly conditions.

Returning for a second attempt late last year at Loretta Lynn’s GNCC’s 11th round, a more familiar race package was made available to Price, but a damaged brake lever sapped his potential.

Price will now head to the U.S. to take on the Americans in the GNCC.

Finally pulling a fourth Outright at round 12 the following day, Price proved to himself that he can run with the best in the world at GNCC.

This time round, KTM Australia have secured their own stock KTM 500 EXC at a U.S. dealership for Price to pick up. Armed with his own suspension, ignition and handlebars, he’ll be as ready as he’ll ever be to take on the yanks in the guise of an underdog at the Big Bick GNCC in two weeks time.

“It’s a tough game trying to prove yourself in the states,” he explained. “If I do well this time then hopefully I’ll get some support to have that bike shipped across America to race the WORCS round the following weekend. If not, I’ll just buy an old Chevy, pull the 500 to bits and stick it in the boot, then road trip across America myself!”

Go get ’em boy.

Looking for more off-road action from Adam Riemann? Check out his website at www.motology.cc.