Australian off-road racing champion Toby Price has stepped away from desert racing after being disqualified from the 2026 SCORE San Felipe 250, a decision that has become one of the biggest talking points of the new SCORE International Off-Road Championship season. The controversy has led to the resignation of his navigator, prompted an internal review within Team Australia, and raised broader questions about conduct and safety in professional desert racing.
The dispute began after SCORE International’s Competition Review Board (CRB) announced that Price and navigator Brent Bauman had been disqualified for unsportsmanlike conduct during pre-running near Race Mile 52 in Baja California, Mexico. According to the sanctioning body, the decision followed a review of video footage, witness statements and other submitted evidence.
Although SCORE did not initially publish detailed evidence with its announcement, the case quickly attracted widespread attention after allegations emerged that rocks had been placed on parts of the race course before the event. If proven, such actions could increase risks in an already dangerous form of motorsport where competitors travel across rough terrain at high speed.
Price has firmly denied those allegations, saying the available footage and witness statements do not demonstrate that he placed rocks on the course.
Price denies wrongdoing but accepts the final decision
In a public statement, the two-time Dakar Rally winner said the circulating video only showed him interacting with a bystander and clearing part of a racing line. He argued that the evidence did not support claims that he interfered with the course.
Even so, Price confirmed he would not challenge the ruling. While maintaining his innocence, he said he respected the Competition Review Board’s process and would accept its decision as final.
The incident has renewed discussion throughout off-road racing about competitor responsibility during pre-running and the importance of maintaining course safety before race day.
Safety issues involving elite athletes have also remained in the spotlight this year, including the Tiger Woods crash investigation, which generated significant debate about accountability following a high-profile sporting incident.
Navigator resigns as Team Australia faces scrutiny
The fallout intensified when Brent Bauman resigned from Team Australia less than a day after the disqualification became official.
Team owner Paul Weel confirmed that he accepted Bauman’s resignation following the CRB findings and preliminary results from the team’s own internal review.
Weel said he was not present at the location during the alleged incident and had no knowledge of what occurred because he was several hours away from that section of the course. Nevertheless, he emphasized that safety remains one of the team’s highest priorities and that any conduct capable of putting competitors at risk would not be supported.
Price also publicly defended Weel, saying the team owner should not be held responsible for an incident in which he had no involvement.
The controversy has placed unexpected pressure on Team Australia, which entered the SCORE championship with ambitions of building a long-term presence in international desert racing.
Career break creates uncertainty for the championship
Price later announced that he would step away from desert racing for the foreseeable future, describing the past several days as one of the most difficult periods of his career.
After more than two decades competing at the highest level of off-road motorsport, he said he wanted time to evaluate his future and consider his next steps before returning to competition.
Elite athletes across different sports have faced similar moments away from competition, including Lamar Odom’s latest rehab journey, where the former NBA star chose to focus on his health before returning to public life.
Before being removed from the official results, Price had qualified 31st overall and finished eighth in class and 17th outright in the San Felipe 250. Following the disqualification, those results were erased from the standings, while Luke McMillin was confirmed as the event winner.
Read More:
- K2 Airways cargo plane missing near Karachi after losing contact
- FIFA suspends two USMNT staff members before Belgium match
- Visit the Swikblog homepage for more latest news
Beyond the result itself, the controversy has highlighted how disciplinary decisions in modern motorsport are increasingly shaped by official investigations alongside widespread public discussion across social media and digital platforms.
For SCORE International, the case reinforces the importance of maintaining confidence in race safety and competitor conduct throughout the championship. For Price, it represents a major setback at the beginning of the 2026 season while leaving uncertainty over when—or if—he will return to desert racing.
As things stand, the official disqualification remains in place, Bauman has left Team Australia, and Price continues to deny wrongdoing while accepting the governing body’s final decision.
Official updates on the championship and future rulings are available through SCORE International.
Make Swikblog your go-to source on Google for reliable updates, smart insights, and daily trends.
