Toby Price admits he’s still not 100 percent heading into the 2019 Dakar Rally after fracturing his scaphoid last month, with the event set to commence today in Lima, Peru.

The Australian revealed he generally feels prepared, although is still suffering pain from the injury, which has had only four weeks to rehabilitate. Despite that, the 2016 Dakar Rally victor is adamant it won’t cause him any issues throughout the gruelling event.

“Things are looking good here in Lima, the team have been working really hard on the run up to the event and now it’s time for us to deliver,” Price commented. “Generally, I’m feeling good and well prepared, my arm isn’t quite 100 percent perfect – it still gives me some pain from time to time – but I am confident it’s strong enough not to cause me any issues in the race.

“I really don’t know what to expect from the race, it’s going to be a hard one to judge and we won’t really know how it plays out until we get out there. It’s going to be tough to pull time on the others if you are starting out front as we all know it’s often easier to follow the tracks in front through the sand.

“Having said that, there is scope for some big mistakes as navigation could prove really tricky. I’m looking forward to the sand to be honest, I ride well in the dunes and it could be a little easier on my wrist.”

Price, the reigning FIM Cross-Country Rallies world champion, has landed on the podium in three of four attempts at Dakar, clinching the crown in 2016 before a severe leg injury in the 2017 edition denied him of defending his title.