Image: Adam Riemann.

Multiple-Australian champion Toby Price will revert to the E2 category of the Yamaha Australian Off-Road Championship in 2014, campaigning KTM’s 450 EXC.

Price won two of his three Outright AORC titles as an E2 rider in 2009 and 2010, while his 2012 championship was aboard a 500 EXC within the E3 ranks.

In 2011 he rode a 350 EXC-F and in 2013 a 500 EXC, however injury derailed his title hopes in both seasons.

The return to a 450 EXC for the first time in four years comes as a major talking point in the pre-season, his decision coming just this week after splitting his testing schedule between a 450 and 500.

It also sets up a budding all-star rivalry in the E2 category as Price goes head-to-head with CDR Yamaha duo Daniel Milner and Chris Hollis in the class and Outright.

“I’ll be riding the KTM 450 EXC in the AORC series and the last time I rode the 450 back in 2010 was one of my best years, so I hope to kick that off again,” Price explained.

“It won’t be as easy this time, but I’ll just try to be smooth and consistent for the series and see what results that brings us.”

This weekend’s opening rounds at Bulahdelah also mark Price’s comeback to AORC competition for the first time since his major neck injuries sustained in the US last year.

“It’s been a good week leading up for us, we did the 12 hour last weekend, a little testing and some photos and I’m coming in feeling pretty good with the body and the fitness, so we’ll wait and see how it all pans out,” he explained.

“The Sprint format should be fun, so we’ll just go out there and try to lay down fast laps and see where that puts us at the end of the day.”

In his return to national racing earlier this year, Price claimed a valiant second overall in the KTM Enduro-X Nationals.