MOTORSPORT: Aussie wins Dakar rally

It's actually happened, 28-year-old Toby Price from Newcastle reached legend status becoming the first Australian to win the world's most famous – and dangerous – rally race, the Dakar Rally.

The Aussie racer has ridden himself into Australian motorsport immortality after dominating the second half of the epic 9000km event in South America, winning by nearly 40 minutes ahead of second-placed Stefan Svitko at the finish line in Rosario, Argentina.

The two week rally is one of the world's toughest motorsport events, and has seen its fair share of fatalities in the past as high-speed desert crashes took their toll. The rally was moved from Africa to South America in 2009 after terrorism fears postponed the event in 2008.

The Dakar rally has four categories – motorbikes, cars, quads and trucks.

While 50-year-old French Dakar maestro Stephane Peterhansel won the four-wheeled car category – clocking up an incredible 12 wins, half of them on motorcycles – for Peugeot, Price snagged his and his country's first ever victory in the race, a huge effort considering it's only his second attempt.

"Winning in my second participation is awesome," said a jubilant Price after being crowned the winner, "but being the first Australian to win the Dakar is just insane."

"I would've never imagined this two years ago."

"Finishing the rally is already a triumph. Winning it is amazing! I tackled the race in true Aussie style. I attacked when I had to, when the time was right, and I kept an eye on my bike during the all-important marathon stages.

"I also navigated quite well. I hope this is just the start, to win again. It won't be easy, so I've got to savour this victory," said Price.

The win aboard a KTM motorcycle marks the 15th victory for the Austrian motorbike company, which also had five of the top 10 finishers.

Not only was it a breakthrough win for the Australian, it's the first time in the history of the event that a rider has won the Dakar Rally on their second attempt.

Price was a dominating presence throughout the rally, which this year also had to deal with extreme weather conditions ranging from thunderstorms and flooding to intense temperatures. He picked up his first stage win in the second stage after the first one was washed out by thunderstorms.

He went on to survive the high altitudes of Bolivia, won stages 5-6 and before the rest day in Salta he had moved into second overall. Refreshed and recharged, Price went on to win the eighth and ninth stages to firmly establish himself as the man to beat.

As the rally went into more difficult navigation and at times blistering temperatures, Price continued to manage the final four stages to start the final day with an impressive 37-minute advantage. By the finish he had added another minute and a half to this time advantage.