Australian KTM rider Toby Price knows that completing The Dakar Rally is a massive triumph in itself.
The South American terrain knows no regard for man or machine, breaking both at will over the course of 14 days and some 9000 kilometres travelled.
But to wipe the sand from the eyes and the blood from the boots to hold The Dakar trophy aloft, takes more than just strength.
Victory demands sacrifice. And the Australian off-road racer has known more than his fair share of pain – including more than 27 broken bones and a broken neck that very nearly rendered him motionless for life.
From first jumping on a bike as a two-year-old to dealing with his sister’s death and then witnessing the death of his best friend in succession, this “Paying the Price” video follows Price’s emotional journey from country kid to becoming Australia’s first ever winner of The Dakar Rally.
The 2022 Dakar Rally will start on Saturday, January 1, with a short Prologue to decide the start order for stage one.
In total, the event consists of 12 full stages, covering a distance of about 9000km.
The race is set to start in Ha’il, from where riders will travel south, stopping at the rest day in Riyadh before heading on to the finish at Jeddah, on the Red Sea coast, on January 14.
Competitors will also face the challenge of two marathon stages during the rally, where no outside assistance is allowed.
Photo courtesy KTM
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