Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Toby Price has stormed to the top of the timesheets on a slightly disrupted day four of the Sonora Rally. Price took the lead on time by kilometer 92 and didn’t look back, increasing his advantage all the way to the finish line. Also enjoying a strong stage four, Matthias Walkner brought his KTM 450 RALLY home in fifth place, with Red Bull KTM teammate Kevin Benavides fighting back from an early issue with the road book to ultimately place 13th.
Provisional Standings – 2023 Sonora Rally (after 4 of 5 stages)
1. Daniel Sanders (AUS), GASGAS, 9:47:08
2. Tosha Schareina (ESP), Honda, 9:52:50 +5:42
3. Luciano Benavides (ARG), Husqvarna, 10:01:31 +14:23
4. Toby Price (AUS), KTM, 10:02:10 +15:02
5. Matthias Walkner (AUT), KTM, 10:06:02 +18:54
Disappointed to have missed out on the win on stage 3, the Aussie truly put the hammer down on today’s 248-kilometer timed special to claim his first stage victory of the event. By kilometer 151, Price had caught and passed third-placed Ricky Brabec to move into the top three and start accumulating bonus time for leading out.
The hard work and focus paid off, with Price earning 47 seconds in bonus, enough to clinch the stage win and close in to within one minute of a top-three placing in the overall standings. With one day left to race, Toby Price sits fourth overall but will open tomorrow’s 139-kilometre timed special, leading to the finish at San Luis.
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTxL6vAX3OM[/embedyt]
Toby Price: “It’s been a bit of a chaotic day, there was a note in the road book where the directions didn’t match the cap heading. I didn’t have any problems, but I know a few did, so it’ll be a bit of a messy day results-wise. Still, my day has gone well, and I was pushing the whole way. I caught Ricky (Brabec) in the worse place possible – through all the fesh fesh and silt beds, so I couldn’t see nothing! After I got past him, I pushed on, just trying to do my best for the championship standings. One day to go, so I’ll keep things safe and try and stay on two wheels.”
STORY: Toby Price – Contract Extension With KTM (October 2023)
STORY: Daniel Sanders Wins 2023 Sonora Rally (April 2023)
STORY: Daniel Sanders Wins Sonora Rally Stage Three (April 2023)
photos (c) Cin Cin Movies