It is the fifth time in six attempts at the Dakar that the Hunter raised Price has finished on the podium for an overall record of two win and three third placings.

Price, who was defending champion, finished third, 24 minutes and six seconds behind American Ricky Brabec.

Brabec is the first American to win the Dakar in any category since it started as a race from Paris through the Sahara desert to the Senegalese capital in West Africa in 1979.

The American star also put an end to Honda's 31-year drought.

While in the car category Carlos Sainz took his third title in his third different car,

Price was 22-and-a-half minutes off Brabec's lead heading into the final stage, after which he said: "Honda just needs to protect their lead. The guys are riding fast and riding smart. It's definitely making it hard for us to try and make up that gap."

A relieved and tired Price thanked his team, family, sponsors and fans for their support.

Thank you Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, my family, my sponsors and each one of you for the overwhelming support throughout this entire race, it means the world to me!

"Thank you Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, my family, my sponsors and each one of you for the overwhelming support throughout this entire race, it means the world to me," he posted.

Chile's Pablo Quintanilla finished second overall after a sensational stage 11 in which he cut 11 minutes and 48 seconds off Brabec's lead over him and increased his own lead over Price to eight minutes and 38 seconds.

The final stage win went to Brabec's Monster Energy Honda teammate Jose Florimo, from Chile, who finished 53 seconds behind Brabec and two minutes, 25 seconds ahead of Price.

Florimo's strong finish enabled him to finish fourth overall, ahead of Price's Red Bull teammates Matthias Walkner, from Austria, and Argentinian Luciano Benavides.