TOBY Price was unable to claim back-to-back Dakar Rally titles after completing the final stage overnight.
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But, he was far from disgraced.
The former Singleton Sports Star of the Year snared third, his fourth podium finish for the month, and also completed the entire event third overall behind Ricky Brabec (the first American to take out the crown).
Brabec, who held the lead from stage 3, finished with a time of 40 hours, 26 minutes and 42 seconds to end his Honda team's 31-year wait for the title.
Chilean Pablo Quintanilla was runner-up 16 minutes and 26 seconds behind the leader while Price rounded out the top three, a further 24 minutes and six seconds in arrears.
"I'm still on the podium," he said.
"Definitely, it's not the result we came for, but I'm quite glad.
"Every time that I've lined up and I've made the finish line, I've been on a podium step.
"This, for me, is a big achievement, especially after these two weeks being tough.
"Some things were out of my control.
"I lost 16 minutes with a bib-mousse falling apart, for example."
Though the result marks the end of the KTM's 18-year winning streak, Price has continued to finish in the top three since making his 2015 debut.
His campaign in 2020 also made him a Dakar Rally immortal.
"Thank you to RedBull, KTM Racing, my family, my sponsors and each one of you for the overwhelming support throughout this entire race, it means the world to me," Price declared on social media.
Rodney Faggotter was the next best Australian (placed 13th) ahead of Ben Young (58th), Trevor Collin Wilson (76th) and Matthew Tisdall (96th).
2020 Dakar Rally final leaderboard
- Ricky Brabec (USA - Monster Energy Honda Team 2020) 40:02'36"
- Pablo Quintanilla (Chile - Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing) +16'26"
- Toby Price (Australia - Red Bull KTM Factory Team) +24'06"
- Jose Ignacio Cornejo Florimo (Chile - Monster Energy Honda Team 2020) +31'43"
- Matthias Walkner (Austria - Red Bull KTM Factory Team) +35'00
Toby Price's results
STAGE ONE - Finished first with a time of 03:21'33" over 752km
STAGE TWO - Finished 17th with a time of 03:51'23" over 393km
STAGE THREE - Finished fifth with a time of 03:38'06" (variation of 08'35") over 504km
STAGE FOUR - Finished sixth with a time of 04:27'50" over 672km
STAGE FIVE - Finished first with a time of 03:57'33" over 564km
STAGE SIX - Finished 11th with a time of 04:53'01" over 830km
STAGE SEVEN - Finished seventh with a time of 04:44'19" (variation of 07'57") over 741km
STAGE EIGHT - (Cancelled)
STAGE NINE - Finished second with a time of 03:32'27" over 886km
STAGE TEN - Finished fourth with a time of 02:14'39" (stage cut short due to safety concerns) over 608km
STAGE ELEVEN - Finished fifth with a time of 04:15'11" over 744km
STAGE TWELVE - Finished third with a time of 01:30'40" over 429km
