Source: Supplied.

Active8 Yamalube Yamaha’s Daymon Stokie claimed the 2017 Tatts Finke Desert Racing victory following multiple gruelling days of racing in the Northern Territory.

Last winning the iconic event in 1986 when Stephen Gall, Stokie’s win marked Yamaha’s first Finke Desert Race victory in 30 years.

It was KTM Desert Racing Team’s David Walsh who made it to Finke first as he sat five minutes ahead of Stokie before any necessary mechanical work and a night’s rest took place.

Carrying a hand injury into the event, Stokie pushed through the pain on the return trip and took advantage of Walsh’s misfortune as he became stranded on the side of the track.

Inheriting the lead near the first check point of the return leg, Stokie was forced to continue riding in pain on the challenging track as his rivals continued to close in.

Determined to cross the line in the top spot, the Northern Territory-based racer was able to hold off his competitors to claim victory three-minutes ahead of his nearest rival Ivan Long.

South Australia’s Long edged out Alice Springs local Luke Hayes for the runner-up spot as Kent Collins and Sam Davie brought it home to round out the top five for 2017.

Early leader Walsh was unable to finish the return leg of the event due to the mechanical issues that occurred just 10 kilometres from the starting line.