Hometown hero David Walsh has sealed his first ever King of the Desert crown in the bike category in an emotionally charged victory at the 2019 Tatts Finke Desert Race.
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The KTM rider completed a lights-to-flag victory, maintaining the top spot from Prologue through to Finke and back to win the coveted race for the first time.
Walsh claimed his maiden win in convincing fashion with a 4min 59sec lead and overall time of three hours and 56 minutes. The Alice Springs local was visibly emotional when he took the chequered flag, with the crowd erupting in cheer as he crossed the Start/Finish line in first position.
Jack Rhodes and David Pullino completed a breakthrough win to be crowned Kings of the Desert in the car category for the first time, which ended in heartbreak for favourite Toby Price.
The Jimco Aussie Special Nissan 3500cc of Rhodes and Pullino claimed victory with a 6min 33sec margin over Josh Howells and Eric Hume in second.
The pair from Adelaide have finished the race on the podium four times previously (3rd in 2018 and 2017, 2nd in 2015 and 2014), and finally took the coveted win with an overall time of three hours and 42 minutes.
Rhodes and Pullino swiped the race lead from Price when a mechanical failure forced the Red Bull racer out of the race between the Mt Squires and Bundooma check points.
