Yamaha sit in the driver’s seat of the 2011 Yamaha Australian Off-Road Championship (AORC) after rounds one and two, with YZ450F rider, Chris Hollis, leading Outright and Championship E2 and YZ250F pilot, Stefan Merriman, tied for the top spot in Championship E1.
Yamaha also have a rider in the top three of Championship E3, with Matt Phillips in second place on the YZ475F.
And they aren’t the only Yamaha riders in podium places in the most prestigious of the AORC classes: YZ250F racer, Kirk Hutton, is third in E1 and Stefan Granquist (YZ450F) is third in E2.
Rounds one and two of the Yamaha AORC were held Saturday and Sunday near Bulahdelah (NSW). A record 300 riders competed.
Hollis, 26, from Wauchope (NSW) finished second in class and Outright both days.
“Coming into this weekend, I wasn’t sure where I would be speed wise, because I was in Europe last year,” Hollis of the Ballard’s Wellard Yamaha Team, said.
“But to know for sure that I’m up there, now, gives me a lot of confidence for the next rounds and for the [Australian 4-Day Enduro] in April.
“The track this weekend was rough and really dusty… fast too, pretty scary in some parts.
“The heat, it was like thirty five degrees or thereabouts both days, also made it challenging.
“But my YZ450F was working awesome, I can’t fault it. I really gel with the Yamaha.
“Now I’m just looking forward to racing again at the four day – I’ll see you in April!”
Merriman won Saturday’s cross-country and is now sitting third Outright and tied with Ben Grabham for first in class.
Yamaha are also leading the Championship Women’s class after the opening rounds, with Swedish rider, Emelie Karlsson, sitting first, followed by fellow YZ250F pilot, Jemma Wilson, in second.
Ballard’s Wellard Yamaha’s, Jessica Gardiner, won Sunday’s round aboard her WR250F.
Byron Bay YZ250F rider, Tom McCormack, sits fourth in E1 and finished third in the class in Sunday’s round.
Full results can be found at: http://www.mylaps.com/results/showevent.jsp?id=628152
Rounds three and four of the Yamaha AORC are being held at Hedley (VIC) on May 28th and 29th. For more info visit: http://www.ma.org.au/index.php?id=1415
The next race on the Australian off-road calendar is the 2011 Yamaha Yamalube Cycra GYTR Australian 4-Day Enduro (A4DE), being held near Mackay (Queensland), from April 20th to 23rd (www.a4de.com).
For more information on Ballard’s Off-Road, please visit http://www.ballards.cc
For more information on Yamaha, please visit http://www.yamaha-motor.com.au
ENDS
Media: Leigh Hutton (Shooting Star Media) – 0400 465 101
Yamaha AORC Rnd 1
Championship E1 Top-Three
Stefan Merriman YAMAHA
Ben Grabham
Kirk Hutton YAMAHA
Championship E2 Top-Three
Chris Hollis YAMAHA
Bartosz Oblucki
Stefan Granquist YAMAHA
Championship E3 Top-Three
Jarrod Bewley
Matt Phillips YAMAHA
Geoff Braico
Yamaha AORC Rnd 2
Championship E1 Top-Three
Ben Grabham
Stefan Merriman YAMAHA
Tom McCormack YAMAHA
Championship E2 Top-Three
Toby Price
Chris Hollis YAMAHA
Glen Kearney
Championship E3 Top-Three
Jarrod Bewley
Matt Phillips YAMAHA
Geoff Braico
Yamaha AORC Championship points after round two
Championship E1 Top-Three
Stefan Merriman YAMAHA Points: 47
Ben Grabham 47
Kirk Hutton
YAMAHA 38
Championship E2 Top-Three
Chris Hollis
YAMAHA 47
Bartosz Oblucki 40
Stefan Ganquist
YAMAHA 30
Championship E3 Top-Three
Jarrod Bewley 50
Matt Phillips YAMAHA 44
Nick Beattie 36
Yamaha AORC Outright Top-10 (After two rounds)
Chris Hollis YAMAHA
Jarrod Bewley
Stefan Merriman YAMAHA
Ben Grabham
Matt Phillips YAMAHA
Bartosz Oblucki
Toby Price
Kirk Hutton YAMAHA
Tom McCormack YAMAHA
Glen Kearney
