Image: Nils Friedrich.

KTM Desert Racing Team’s Toby Price and Ivan Long have registered their second 1-2 of the Desert Tri-Series, dominating proceedings at the Doorawarra 500 near Carnarvon in Western Australia aboard their KTM 500 EXCs.

Long drew first blood by besting Price in Friday’s 10-kilometre Prologue, however Price was fastest in both 250-kilometre stages across the weekend to win the event from Long and Jacob Smith, and continue his unbeaten run across the country’s major desert races for 2014.

“I got second in the prologue by about 20 seconds, but caught up and was quicker yesterday, however the dust was that crazy and mental that I couldn’t see anything,” Price said. “Today we got to start first and got a good clear run, so I can’t complain. I’ve got two wins up now which is great; the third one won’t be easy, but we’ll go there and do what we can.”

Ivan Long: “I had a pretty good Prologue, qualified first and got a little bit over Toby, so that was cool. I haven’t done that before! Day one I put my head down and rode my own race and ended up 20 seconds behind Toby. Day two I thought I’d see if I can hang with Toby and just see where I’m at, so I put my head down and gained on him that first lap, but I didn’t have the energy to keep that pace.”

Completing the podium was Jacob Smith ahead of brother Todd, while filling in for Ben Grabham, Louis Calvin exceeded expectations with fifth overall.

Price’s win in the three-day event, approximately 900 kilometres north of Perth, keeps him eligible for the coveted bonus prize – a $20,000 bonus offered to any rider who can win all three rounds. KTM’s Grabham won the bonus last year, in the series inaugural running.

2014 Desert Tri-Series
Round two – Doorawarrah 500

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