Toby Price has declared he won’t defend his Tatts Finke Desert Race title this year, and will instead focus on the Truck category where victory has eluded him in his last three attempts.

The decision comes after Price heroically earned his second Dakar Rally crown in January while nursing a broken wrist, which has sidelined him since as he continues to recover from increased damage suffered in the gruelling event.

The Queensland-based talent, who won a record-breaking sixth Finke Bike category win last year, believes contesting solely the Truck division will offer the safest option as he already plots his attack on the 2020 Dakar Rally.

“Racing only the truck is the safer option to know that I’ll be ready for Dakar 2020, after the injury I’d like to focus on one category and the one I haven’t won yet,” Priced commented.

“Bummed I’m missing out on the bike but I’ve got to look to the future and be smart about my injury at the moment. Maybe in 2020 we will do the bike again and see if I can get seven! The double is not out of sight, it’s something I know I want to do and I want to achieve in future.”

Price’s current wrist injury has also ruled him out of defending his FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship. The Fink Desert Race is scheduled for 7-10 June in the Northern Territory.