KTM Australia press release:

Source: KTM.

With a stunning 1-2 finish in the Finke Desert race a fortnight ago and an equally gobsmacking trifecta on not one, but both days of the last AORC stop in South Australia, there’s no doubt KTM’s Off-Road Racing squad is at the top of its game approaching this weekend’s seventh and eighth rounds of the Australian off Road Championships in Queensland.

However, on the back of a very intense racing schedule, KTM Enduro Racing Team riders Toby Price, Tye Simmonds and Daniel Sanders will have a couple of extra challenges to face at Aratula.

Recently crowned Finke Desert Race Champion and arguably the world’s busiest off-road racer, Toby Price will carry the remnants of a foot injury he sustained in practice for Finke as he attempts to extend his 28-point AORC championship lead aboard the number one KTM 500 EXC.

Price has stayed off the bike in the last two weeks to allow his foot to heal, and will make the transition from 190kmh straights to low-speed tree dodging with almost zero saddle time, testing even his well-known versatility to the max.

Young teammate and fellow E3 competitor Daniel Sanders is running third overall in his first senior year of AORC, but the young Victorian admits that with his favourite tracks now behind him, the challenge to be a consistent high level performer really begins.

Brimming with youthful enthusiasm, optimism and confidence, it’s a challenge that “Chucky” Sanders is happy to take head-on.

Tye Simmonds’ year of firsts continues this weekend at Aratula, and despite virtually no bike time since Finke, the former motocross pro is quietly confident he’ll make a solid fist of his first-ever enduro race. The fact that he is currently ranked fifth in his very first AORC series suggests he’s an incredibly quick learner.

Toby Price – KTM 500 EXC – “My foot’s a lot better to walk with now. The doctors couldn’t quite be sure whether there was a fracture there or not, but we’ll be good to go. The season so far is going good, but there’s still another six rounds so anything can happen. If we can try to extend the points lead this weekend that would be great, but if not we’ll just play it smart. It’s good to see my two teammates doing really well, I like seeing the KTM brand up at the front; that’s who we ride for and it feels like a big family, so it’s good to see them contending for wins and pushing me along as well because that’s only going to make me stronger at the end of the day.”

Tye Simmonds – KTM 450 EXC “I’m not super prepared this time – we had a week off the bike after Finke, and since then I’ve just been that busy with things that I haven’t been able to get on the bike. The body’s feeling good though, and I’m definitely keen to go riding, that’s for sure. That non-finish at Hedley set me back a few points but my goal is to just keep chipping away at knocking guys off one at a time. This format being you I will just try to be consistent and keep it on two wheels on both days and hopefully we can park it on the podium. That’s the goal. It’s been a really interesting year and we’ve still got a fair bit to go, so bring it on.”

Daniel ‘Chucky’ Sanders – KTM 300 EXC – “Since the South Australian round I’ve had a couple of state rounds and a club round as well so I’ve been pretty busy – not much rest. Everything is tiptop though, and no injuries, so fingers crossed we keep it that way and just keep chipping away at this year. That’s where I stuffed up last year, I came here after we just had rain for like three weeks straight and it was dry and dusty, and I couldn’t ride it. If, like today though, I can get out for a good little squirt and get used to it beforehand, it’s all sweet. It’s awesome to be as far up in the first senior year, but I’ve sort of had my favourite rounds now, so hopefully I can pick it up at the other venues and keep the momentum going like a big snowball rolling downhill!”

Ben Grabham, Team Manager – “We’ve got two days of enduro this weekend, the only two enduro days for the whole championship this year. Obviously we’re coming off a good string of results and it’s important to continue with that. It’s been a pretty hectic last few weeks travelling to the Red Centre and back but everyone is in a pretty good place right now. Toby’s foot is still going to be sore, particularly if he has to walk a few special tests, but as we saw he still got the job done at Finke. Daniel’s been good he’s had a couple of state rounds where he’s had some really good form and learned a few things along the way, and enduro is one of his favourite formats. For Tye, it’ll be another new game for him. Tye has pretty much no idea what enduro is, he’s heard bits and pieces, and he is off to the Six-Day later on so this will be great for him to find out what enduro is all about. And once he does, I think he’ll have a lot of fun with it.”

For more information on KTM motorcycles visit www.ktm.com.au or www.facebook.com/KTMAustralia.