Image: Supplied.

Australian Toby Price has exited the 2021 Dakar Rally after crashing out of today’s ninth stage, airlifted to hospital in Tabuk for scans.

The Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider has suspected arm and shoulder injuries, according to organisers in Saudi Arabia, forced to abandon the race altogether.

“Toby Price has been taken to hospital in Tabuk for X-rays and has therefore been forced to exit the race prematurely due to his accident,” an official update from Dakar confirmed the two-time winner’s exit.

Price had been ranked in second position following a gruelling marathon stage to begin this week, overcoming a severely damaged tyre to remain in contention until today’s fall, 155 kilometres into stage nine.

Update from KTM:
As the former leading KTM rider at this year’s event, Toby Price was well placed to fight for the event’s final podium positions. Unfortunately, while pushing hard, right at the front of the field on today’s special, the experienced Australian suffered a fall around the 155-kilometer mark and required medical attention. Airlifted to the hospital in Tabuk and confirmed to have suffered a broken collarbone, the two-time Dakar winner will sadly play no further part in this year’s event.