Motocross star Toby Price’s injury fate to be decided today as fight for Red Bull future heats up

One of the toughest men in world sport is on the cusp of having his incredible career come crashing down prematurely.

Australian biker Toby Price has his sights set on recovering in time to prepare for a comeback at the Dakar Rally. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)

Motocross sensation Toby Price will meet with doctors today to determine the extent of a thumb injury which has thrown chaos into his pursuit of a contract renewal.

The Gold Coast speedster suffered several damaged ligaments after a fall in Morocco this month during the Rallye du Maroc Stage Four.

Come March the 35-year-old’s contract with the Red Bull Factory KTM Rally Team will expire, and he knows only a vastly improved finish in January’s Dakar Rally will keep him on the bike.

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This injury, Price said, had still thrown a spanner in the works but he confirmed the extent of the damage was not severe enough to keep him off the bike for long.

He is currently working on his rehabilitation in Brisbane, and while he will not line up in the SuperUtes at this weekend’s Gold Coast 500 he may yet spectate the event which he has previously competed in.

Toby Price may return to the Gold Coast 500 SuperUtes one day, however for now he says his focus is on securing a new motocross deal. Picture: Supplied.

Price said for now he was simply in a waiting game as to when he could begin preparation for what could prove the most pivotal race of his motocross career as he hunts a two-year contract extension.

“I’m not on edge, but I’m cutting it fine to have it all organised," Price said.

“For sure it throws a spanner in the works, but honestly I had a worse injury in 2019 and was still able to win Dakar with a broken scaphoid (bone in the wrist).

“For sure at the end of the day if you win in January that definitely signs you up in the right position straight away and can kind of call some shots.

“But I’d say even you can show some stage wins and a top five result I think that’s going to be something that will keep the fire alive for us and keep us on two wheels for another year or two.

“My contract comes up for renewal in March so I need to have a solid result in 2023 at Dakar otherwise I could be looking for a job.”

Price suffered the damage to his thumb while making a self-confessed mistake, attempting to regain a lead over a rival before his vision became impaired by a cloud of dust.

As he strove to emerge from the haze that engulfed him, the Glitter Strip gun’s bike collected an unknown obstruction and caused him to crash to the turf.

Price, however, is no stranger to overcoming such setbacks.

In the 9th stage of the 2021 Dakar spectacle, the two-time winner of the event crashed and injured his left arm, shoulder and broke his collarbone.

Australian motorcycle racer Toby Price pictured in hospital after his crash in the 2021 Dakar Rally. Picture: Twitter / @tobyprice87

While Price is set to return to competition soon, hopeful he gets medical clearance to line up on four wheels in the Baja 1000 in Mexico on November 15, a permanent shift from the bike to the car is far from his mind.

Having at times split his focus between the two codes he is determined to remain in motocross until his late-30s, and had already disregarded any thought of taking on the SuperUtes at this weekend’s GC 500 long before his injury.

Price said his 10th placed finish at this year’s Dakar Rally — the worst of his career — still burned fresh in his mind, and working towards returning to the top of the podium would be his primary focus.

“It wasn’t like I was losing focus, it was more a thing where I kind of just wanted to commit to myself a bit,” he said.

“After my result this year in Dakar it was my worst placed finish ever. I just kind of shifted the focus a little bit and I want to try and rekindle that back up to where I need to be.

“I need finish a lot better than I did. At this stage as we sit now it’s cross that bridge as we come to it, it all does weigh up on the result at Dakar and where we go from there.

Australian biker Toby Price concentrates. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)

“I still love riding bikes, everyone sees me doing four wheels and thinks I’ll pack up shop soon but my main aim and goal is to get a two-year contract with bike riding.

“It (SuperUtes) is always going to be there I think, and we want to try and finish on a high note on the two wheels side.

“At the moment I’m in full rehab stuff. I might try and slide in there (to the Supercars) one day, but if not it’s basically just putting my focus towards getting ready for January.”

The GC500 will begin on Friday October 28.