Image: Dirtcomp.

HMG Motorsport Group KTM’s David Walsh has clinched a three-peat in the 2022 Tatts Finke Desert Race, beating the previous race record by over 10 minutes.

Walsh led the way yesterday’s opening 226km stage from Alice Springs to Finke, with his time of 1h46m10.3s placing him a comfortable three minutes ahead of the rest of the field.

Equipped with the KTM 500 EXC-F, the 32-year-old controlled his advantage on the return leg back to Alice Springs today, relinquishing just 42 seconds as he set the third-fastest time of 1h49m34.6s.

When the overall times were tallied, Walsh finished with a total of 3h35m45s and enjoyed a handy advantage of 2m26s over Jacob Smith (Schwarz Racing Husqvarna) in second place. The podium was completed by another Husqvarna rider in Jack Simpson.

GasGas enduro regular Korey McMahon was a fine fourth outright and and top of the 450cc entrants, with Billy Hargy best of the 250cc riders in 20th position overall.

Detailed results