KAWASAKI AUSTRALIA:

In only his rookie year in the Australian Off Road Championship, 22 year old MSC Kawasaki rider Toby Price is the 2009 outright Champion!

Exhibiting phenomenal speed and finesse throughout the series, the victory is particularly sweet for Toby considering the talented field of both National and International Champions that he had to beat to claim the Title. Toby wrapped up the Championship at the final round of the series at Young, NSW on Sunday 13 September.

The outright victory for Toby comes on the back of four round victories in the series on his KX450F and extends the Kawasaki KX’s Australian Championship Title winning streak to 4 consecutive years! However Toby Price wasn’t the only Kawasaki rider enjoying success at the end of the ’09 Australian Off Road Championship. Pro E1 rider Josh Green experienced podium glory after finishing 3rd place in his class on his MSC Kawasaki KX250F while young Kawasaki rider Liam Clover flew the green flag in the Junior 14-15 years class, winning the class on his KX85.

Toby was so fast on his KX450F at the final 2 rounds at Young, NSW that a bike drop in Sunday’s 4th heat resulting in a 10 second delay was still not enough to keep him from overall victory. In what can only be described as a pressure cooker-like atmosphere, Toby Price kept absolute composure throughout the weekend’s racing and did everything right both on and off the track, both physically and mentally, to come away with the Australian Championship.

An elated Toby says, “This is awesome! I’ve definitely been riding well this year but the win was still unexpected. At the start of the year, I didn’t think I’d be standing at the top of the podium now.”

“The KX450F was awesome all series and it’s definitely one of the best bikes I’ve ridden. I’ve ridden Kawasakis since I was seven so it was great to win a Championship on the green bike.”

“I’d really like to give a big thanks to Mark, Simone and Vaughan at MSC. Also my mechanic Georgie, and all of the team sponsors for their support. It’s great to come away with a win for them all.”

“I’m now looking forward to the ISDE. I’m not expecting anything flash but I thought that at the beginning of this series and things turned out alright so we’ll see how I go.”

MSC’s Vaughan Cumming says, “I’m speechless. We’re all so rapt. The hard work and effort put in by all the team has paid off and this is the first Australian Title for not only us but also the majority of our sponsors so it’s great for all of us.”

“We’re over the moon for not only Toby but also Josh who did extremely well to also finish on the podium.”

“I heartily congratulate Toby and Josh and would like to thank Kawasaki and all of our sponsors. Also a big thanks to Phil Sargent at Dirt Bike Promotions for putting together a great series.”

After celebrating and thoroughly enjoying  his National Title, Toby will rejoin teammate Josh Green on the practise tracks as they prepare for the ISDE (both riders will be riding MSC Kawasakis on the Australian team) being held in Portugal on 12-17 October 2009.