Image: Supplied.

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Toby Price has won the 2023 Rallye du Maroc, ultimately finishing just four points shy of the FIM World Rally-Raid title after a strong performance in the last round.

Over the course of this year’s Rallye du Maroc, Price has put in day after day of strong performances to take the win by an impressive three minutes. However, with closest rival Luciano Benavides (Husqvarna) securing the runner-up result, despite his best efforts, Price had to settle for second in the championship.

“Yeah, it was a really good stage!” said Price. “I had one little mishap but other than that I’m happy to have won the round here in Morocco. The championship is a hard one to swallow, we put up a good fight and did everything we could but 2023 just hasn’t been the greatest season for us.

“I’m happy in the fact that I never gave up and put in 100 percent right to the finish. I’ll take a little time now to get some rest but then we’re soon looking ahead to the Dakar in January. For sure, it’s going to be another tough one, but I’m feeling good, the bike is great, and I’ll do my best as always.”

2023 has been a year of mixed fortunes for Price, but the two-time Dakar champion carried the fight all the way to the final round. Second at the Dakar Rally, missing out on the win by just 44 seconds to Red Bull KTM teammate Kevin Benavides, Price then took the world championship lead with third place at the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge.

A fourth place at the Sonora Rally saw him extend that lead before an unfortunate technical issue at the Desafio Ruta 40 cost him time and his championship advantage.

After concluding the year on a high with his win at the Rallye du Maroc , Price now looks ahead to the 2024 Dakar Rally where he will compete with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing in a bid for his third victory at the iconic event.