KTM 450 Rally-mounted Australian Toby Price has begun his first Dakar Marathon stage in great shape, finishing fifth in today’s high-altitude journey from Iquique to Uyuni in Bolivia, on the back of the event’s mid-race rest day.

Dakar riders must always exercise great care over long hours, however the two-day marathon stages require even greater vigilance, particularly when it comes to preserving and protecting tyres since riders are isolated from the assistance of their teams for the duration of the marathon.

“It was a great day today,” Price reflected. “I opened the stage by leading the way for a while for the first time. I tried my best to stay on the course, but I made a few mistakes. My pace is good and so is the KTM motorcycle, so I’m looking forward to tomorrow.

“The altitude makes it a lot tougher than I thought. The bike has been great and done an amazing job during this marathon stage, I’ll check a couple of things this evening and that should be enough for tomorrows stages.”

Portuguese Paolo Goncalves topped the timesheets in today’s 321km timed component with defending champion Marc Coma second, and KTM-mounted Austrian rookie Matthias Walkner finishing third.

Coma’s charge slashed almost six minutes off the KTM rider’s deficit to Joan Barreda in the overall standings, with over 2000 kilometres of Special Stage yet to come.

Continuing his brilliant rookie run, Price has maintained the outstanding fifth place he holds in his first tilt at the world’s biggest off-road race.

The Marathon stage concludes tomorrow as a huge 781km timed section marks the longest special stage of the Dakar, with the majority of it run between 3600 and 4000 metres.