Image: Supplied.

Reigning champion and two-time winner Toby Price (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) has opened the 2020 Dakar Rally by topping stage one.

Carrying the number one plate, the Australian had the advantageous position of being the 23rd rider to enter the day’s stage. The Queenslander immediately pushed hard from the start, posting the second-fastest time to the first waypoint.

A small issue with his navigation equipment looked set to reduce his pace with a seized road book making navigation difficult.

He was able to tag on to the back of teammate Matthias Walkner and the pair brought their KTM 450 RALLY machines home safely and in good time, with Price fastest overall.

Monster Energy Honda Team’s Ricky Brabec came in a close second ahead of Walkner, as the top five was completed by Kevin Benavides (Monster Energy Honda Team) and Sam Sunderland (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing).

Australian Rodney Faggotter (Yamaha Motor Australia) wound up 25th on day one day, as compatriots Ben Young (Duust Rally Team), Phillip Wilson (Bas Dakar KTM Racing Team), Trevor Wilson (Husqvarna) and Matthew Tisdall (Bas Dakar KTM Racing Team) finished in positions 92, 98, 127, and 129.

Detailed results