Image: Adam Riemann.

Three weeks after a spectacular debut win in the Finke Desert Race, the KTM Desert Racing Team has eclipsed another quality field to occupy all three steps of the podium at the first round of the Desert Tri-Series, the Kumarina 500, in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.

Finke winner Toby Price made it two on the trot, powering his KTM 500 EXC to victory over Ivan Long with Ben Grabham, ahead of brothers Jacob and Todd Smith, with Josh Green finishing sixth.

It was however, KTM Desert Racing Team manager and winner of the inaugural tri-series, Ben Grabham who drew first blood in the series, by qualifying fastest in the prologue ahead of Price and Long.

Twenty-four-year-old Long rebounded on Saturday to top the time sheets after the first 250 kilometres, before Price ultimately assumed the lead on Sunday.

“We had a few small dramas on day one, but today everything went pretty well,” Price said. “We caught up to Ivan. He was on the gas and killing it, and it was hard to see in the dust, but we made that time up and got to the front, and then Ivan had a bit of a get-off which made it a little bit easier for me to get through and we came away with the win.

“But we’re pretty stoked, the whole KTM Desert Team went well. We’re having a good run at the moment and Grabbo is doing an unreal job and keeping us up near the front and all the boys are riding good so it’s a good result for all of us.”

The series continues on 25-27 July July at the Doorawarrah 500 near Carnarvon, before concluding with the Indee 500 near Port Hedland in August.

2014 Desert Tri-Series
Round one – Kumarina 500

Overall results:
1. Toby Price
2. Ivan Long
3. Ben Grabham
4. Jacob Smith
5. Todd Smith