14.06.2021

KTM RACING TEAM'S WALSH CLINCHES BACK-TO-BACK FINKE DESERT RACE VICTORIES

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KTM Racing Team’s David Walsh has captured back-to-back 'King of the Desert' crowns at the 2021 Finke Desert Race after a scintillating run from Alice Springs to Finke on Sunday.
Alice Springs local Walsh, 31, was flawless on his record-breaking journey down to Finke on Sunday, powering through the 299-kilometre distance in a remarkable time of 1h45m34.9s.

This year's event was cut short following the tragic loss of a spectator on Monday, declaring the return leg from Finke to Alice Springs scheduled for today. Results for the bikes were determined by the results from day one.

As a result, Walsh and his KTM 500 EXC-F topped their second-consecutive Finke Desert Race after blitzing the rest of the field by 4m23s on the first leg. His time was a staggering 10 minutes quicker than his previous opening day benchmark.

The now two-time Finke Desert Race winner finished ahead of Victorian Jack Simpson, who had gained the early upper-hand after winning the prologue by 3.9 seconds. The pair battled for the lead through the opening turns yesterday, before Walsh took control when the track opened up and left the rest of the field in his wake.

Meanwhile, current factory Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rally star and multi-time Finke champion, Toby Price, became the first person to win both the bike and car contests with an emphatic 2021 outright victory on four-wheels today.

David Walsh: "I’ve got pretty mixed feelings at the moment. It’s nice to go back-to-back, but to do it under these circumstances isn’t the way I wanted to achieve it. Coming into this year’s event I knew I’d done the work and that I’d be fast. KTM Racing Team had provided everything I needed, but I was conscious that even though I needed to push on the first leg yesterday, I still needed to leave something in the tank for the return. I wasn’t expecting to have a near four-and-a-half-minute lead and it allowed me to come into today feeling more relaxed than I usually would. Today was tough, but the race organisers made the right call and everyone’s safety is paramount. Our thoughts and sympathies are with the families and friends of those involved in today’s tragedy."

2021 Finke Desert Race results:
1. David Walsh (KTM Racing Team) 1h45m34.9s
2. Jack Simpson (Husqvarna) 1h49m58.6s
3. Beau Ralston (KTM) 1h50m31.9s
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Contact

AUSTRALIA - Rosie Lalonde

 

 

Rosie Lalonde

Marketing Manager

KTM Group
Australia - New Zealand

T + 61 428 181 388 
E rosie.lalonde@ktm.com