Image: Supplied.

Red Bull KTM’s Toby Price is in a position to strike as the 2018 Dakar Rally enters Argentina, currently fourth overall following the cancellation of stage nine yesterday.

The 2016 winner has been gaining strength through the middle stages of the race and after arriving in Salta, Argentina, Price insists there is still a lot of racing left to run prior to Saturday’s conclusion.

“I’m looking forward to racing in Argentina again,” Price said, currently 7m35s outside of Yamaha’s Adrien Van Beveren. “From what we have had in previous years, I think it’s going to be quite difficult. There’s still a long way to go – a lot of kilometres left to race.

“I am happy with my pace, to be able to get this far so soon after coming back from injury is a real confidence boost. I’ll just keep on doing what I’ve been doing – taking each day as it comes – and hopefully I’ll be somewhere near at the finish.”

Stage 10 set for today is another long one, where a total of 797km will be covered on the bikes – 373km of which are timed special in the dunes and river crossings of the Catamarca Province. Navigation will be especially important, as well as the strength to keep up a good pace in the technical latter half of the stage.