Image: Supplied.

A tough start to the 2022 Dakar Rally for Toby Price ultimately proved costly, a navigational issue on stage one leaving the Red Bull KTM rider with work to do to finish the event 10th overall.

Price, a two-time Dakar winner, delivered solid results to claw his way back up the standings, notably winning stage 10 and finishing second fastest on day 12.

While the end result may not have been what Price was looking for, the Australian can draw positives from successfully finishing the rally, and the speed he showed in the closing stages of the rally is evidence that he will be a real threat at the event in 2023.

“I’m always happy to reach the finish here at the Dakar, it’s been a really tough race this year,” Price explained.

“Losing time on that first day put me on the back foot a little for the rest of the stages, and the way things are now, any mistakes can lose you a lot of time on the others because things are so close.

“The terrain here in Saudi makes for a really fast race too, a lot of the stages are sprints to the finish, but the atmosphere is good and it’s a good place to be. I’m excited for 2023 already!”