Alice Springs local David Walsh takes out the 2019 Tatts Finke Desert Race

LOCAL rider David Walsh has finally broken through for his maiden King of the Desert Title, winning the Tatts Finke Desert Race in stunning fashion

David Walsh won the 2019 Tatts Finke Desert Race. Picture: MATT HENDERSON

LOCAL rider David Walsh has finally broken through for his maiden King of the Desert Title, winning the Tatts Finke Desert Race in stunning fashion.

Starting the race as heavy favourite, the man affectionately known as “Dobby” blitzed the field to win his hometown race for the first time as he finally broke his tag of bridesmaid.

On board his KTM 500 EXC-F, Walsh led dominated the race to be the first bike back into Alice Springs after leading the famous event wire-to-wire.

The win breaks a Finke hoodoo of sorts for Walsh with the 29-year-old finishing second three separate times in the past, in 2012, 2014 and 2018.

Now that he’s officially a King of the Desert, it’s a title Walsh said will take a bit of time to get used to.

David Walsh crosses the finish line first at the 2019 Tatts Finke Desert Race. Picture: MATT HENDERSON

“(It hasn’t sunk in) just yet I don’t think but it still feels bloody good to hear,” he said.

“This has been 12 years of just working my arse off. I’ve had so much support from my family, my wife and kids. The stuff I’ve put them through has been pretty brutal so I’m just happy to have the support I do have.

“I’m just honoured to finally have my name on that trophy next to so many legends I grew up watching.”

Walsh became the second Alice Springs rider in the past three years to win the prestigious desert race after Daymon Stokie broke the local drought in 2017.

The event started on the perfect note for Walsh with a stellar prologue as he earned pole position on race day one.

Desperate for his first title, Walsh’s ride down to Finke was near-flawless as he averaged a speed of 117.5kph.

LIMITED time: Amazing headphones offer for NT News subscribers

Walsh’s time to Finke of 1:55:25.7 put five minutes between himself and second placed Jacob Smith with the time being almost two minutes quicker than Toby Price’s time from 2018.

Despite his flawless run, Walsh said it was anything but smooth sailing.

“(On Sunday) it was honestly the hardest thing I’ve ever done on a dirt bike. There were so many moments I was risking more than just the event. I’m just glad I got through it,” he said.

The win gave Alice Springs a double to celebrate yesterday with former local lad Jack Rhodes winning the car King of the Desert title with navigator Dave Pullino.

Walsh’s victory continues KTM’s dominance of the race in recent years with the manufacturer taking out five of the past six races with Stokie’s win on a Yamaha the only non-KTM winner since 2013.