KTM Enduro Racing Team riders Toby Price and Peter Boyle are locked, loaded and ready to kick start their 2014 racing commitments at this Sunday’s first round of the brand new KTM Enduro-X Nationals, which take place at Brisbane’s Archerfield Speedway.
The popular Enduro-X format pits off-road racers against each other and the clock around a specially constructed course of natural and man-made obstacles, while the new three-round KTM-sponsored series opens the off-road season with events in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne.
For multiple enduro and desert racing champion Price, the series will be a litmus test to gauge the level of his recovery from a serious spinal injury suffered while racing in the U.S. early last year, against some of the best riders the country can offer.
Twenty-six-year-old Boyle from South Gippsland is both the inaugural and current Melbourne Enduro-X champion, and in his new role with KTM would dearly love to become the first series champion.
Team rider and World Junior (Under 23) Enduro Champion Matt Phillips will not be contesting the KTM Enduro-X Nationals.
For the Brisbane event gates open at 10am Sunday, with the main event at approximately 3.30pm and racing completed by 5pm.
Fans can meet Price and Boyle at an autograph signing session at Moorooka KTM from 11am-1pm on Saturday.
Motorex KTM ORT Manager Brad Williscroft: “We’re excited. Being the first of the new three round KTM Enduro-X Nationals we’re looking forward to getting back into it after a good break. We’ve had a few good days testing with Apro a week ago here on our own Enduro-X track, boys are really sorted with bikes and suspension setup so now it’s up to them to have a good run. They’re both looking really sharp. Toby’s 350SX is unreal and he seems to like it – it’s really improved over the last couple of years. Boyley really likes the 250EXC-F as well as the team atmosphere and the support. We made a couple of changes to his bike it initially and now he doesn’t want to do anything to it – just wants to ride it!”
Toby Price: “I’m looking forward to my first race back in Australia, but I don’t know what to expect. The competition will be really tough – it’s the first event and everyone’s batteries are recharged so a lot of guys will come out firing, so either I’ll find I’m in good form or I’ll find out what I need to work on before the second one.
“The 350SX-F is a little lighter and more nimble to get around the more technical tracks, and since we’ve got a three round series I thought I’d ride something more suited to it. Once these are done I’ll get ready for the AORC on the bigger bike.
“It’s good to have Boyley on board with us this year. We get on really well so he should be fun to have in the truck. He’s looking good so I’m sure he’ll be up near the front.”
Peter Boyle: “I’ve been doing a fair bit of riding and I’m really looking forward to this. I’ve been up with the team for a few days to test and I’m feeling pretty good on the bike, pretty comfortable. It’s great that they’ve come up with a series like this which is a bit more challenging; it’s like our version of supercross, and I can do what I did last year in Melbourne I will be very happy.
“The team has been awesome to work with and I’m real happy there. The KTM250EXC-F has been awesome to ride and through the bush I just feel so at home on it. I’m very happy with it.”
For more information on KTM motorcycles visit www.ktm.com.au or www.facebook.com.KTMAustralia.
