2006 Yamaha Australian Off Road Series

It was a successful weekend at Gwandalan for Yamaha Racing’s factory team Ballards Yamaha Motorex, with four riders taking comprehensive victories in their respective classes. Chris Hollis, Jason Cater, Geoff Ballard and Alison Parker maintained their steady title charge into the weekend and produced another string of fast, consistent performances to affirm Yamaha as the premier off-road marque.

The Ballards Yamaha Motorex team has once again dominated its share of proceedings at this weekend’s 5th and final round of the Yamaha Australian Off Road Series.

The New South Wales-based team wrapped up honours in 4 classes, with Chris Hollis, Jason Cater, Geoff Ballard and Alison Parker all producing typically strong runs.

Riders faced one of, if not the toughest round of the national series, having to contend with and conquer a number of steep ascents and descents, creek crossings and other tough obstacles on their way to setting quick heat times across the challenging course.

While Hollis, the top Pro E1 contender, could only manage 2nd place for the round, he had built a comprehensive championship buffer to ensure he would still comfortably take the title.

"It was certainly a challenging weekend with the toughest layout and terrain I think we've come across all year, but still very enjoyable," said Hollis.

"It's a great feeling to take the Pro E1 win this season with the Ballards Yamaha Motorex team."

Off-road specialist Jason Cater capped off a successful season with a win at Gwandalan, sealing his Expert Veteran class win in the best possible style.

Cater adapted quickly to the tough terrain with his WR450F taking the fight right to the competition.

Team Principal Geoff Ballard had set his rivals in the Clubman Masters class a practically impossible task, to unsettle his championship campaign with just the Gwandalan round remaining.

Ballard cruised to victory, with his years of experience in the off-road discipline proving no match for the competition.

He notched up his fifth successive round win, and took his season tally to a perfect 125 points.

"I'm very pleased with this weekend's result, it really was a great challenging round, with a mix of obstacles and terrains and the weather made it even more interesting," said Ballard.

"To take 5 from 5 is ideal and I think it really reflects our entire team's commitment to racing and the preparation of the bikes for each round, everyone has put in a very solid year of racing so far."

Alison Parker once again made light work of her closest competitors, taking an early lead and never looking back.

Parker delivered for Ballards Yamaha Motorex heat after heat, setting herself up for an easy win with fast and consistent performances early on.

She found even more speed on the final day of competition, and joins Team Principal Geoff Ballard on a perfect score of 125 points – 5 from 5 round wins – for season 2006.

"It was an interesting weekend at Gwandalan, with some mixed conditions and fairly tough tracks to deal with - probably the most difficult we've come across so far in the current series," said Parker.

"I was pleased to be able to work on my own heat times and make some real gains there on the Sunday, and its great to take the Womens championship title."

"My bike has worked particularly well throughout the year and it certainly has been a factor in allowing me to take out each round win, I look forward to the other upcoming events on the enduro calendar for 2006."

Josh Ballard and Jarrad Bewley complimented the team's strong performances with impressive weekends of their own, with Ballard taking second place in Clubmans for the round and wrapping up the same position for the 2006 season.