New South Welshman Toby Price has toppled a giant to take the 2010 crown in the bikes section in his first appearance in the Finke Desert Race.
With a 10-minute lead in his pocket, it would have taken almost a miracle to overtake Price on the race back to Alice Springs on Monday.
Price completed the second leg in two hours, four minutes and 43 seconds, retaining his buffer ahead of second place winner Todd Smith.
The current Australian Motorcross Champion could have stopped to change a tyre if he had needed to and still taken the honours, but he said it was hard to remain confident.
"You couldn't still be confident starting down the other end," he admitted.
"It's 240-odd kilometres of more track to go so it's all really good.
"[I'm] just making sure all the bikes get home safely and also myself."
Team-mate and hot favourite Ben Grabham was forced to retire from the event yesterday due to mechanical problems - but he was one of the first to congratulate Toby at the Alice Springs end.
Grabham said he is disappointed, but will be back next year.
"I'm feeling OK," he said.
"I've had plenty of time to think it over. I wanted to get back here and see Toby cross that finish line and get that big cheque that I was hoping I'd get.
"It was disappointing today when I was in a helicopter watching him ride and hoping I could be racing with him, but it's one of those things."
Price is now one of only three riders to take out the King of the Desert at his first attempt.
The other two were Geoff Curtis in the inaugural event in 1976, and David Armstrong in 1987.
In the cars class, Dave Fellows retained his title.
