Ballard’s Yamaha’s Chris Hollis cemented himself at the front of the 2011 Yamaha Australian Off Road Championship in South Australia over the weekend, claiming 4-2 finishes Outright at Callington.

Hollis now leads the Outright standings on 122 points, 14 clear of teammate Stefan Merriman and a further two ahead of Motorex KTM Off Road Racing’s Jarrod Bewley.

The weekend will be remembered as the turning point of the season as disaster struck defending champion Toby Price. Price suffered a mechanical on Saturday in round five and then crashed out of round six on Sunday, suffering a kidney injury in the process.

In-form Yamaha rider Matt Phillips won both Saturday and Sunday in the Outright and E3 categories, jumping up to fourth in the Outright standings on 103 points.

“There has been a great atmosphere around,” Phillips said. “The track was good, the sand was good. The track was fun and challenging. We are all putting our thoughts together for Toby.”

Merriman took out both Saturday and Sunday’s E1 victories, taking over the series lead with the result. Arch-rival Ben Grabham bounced back from injury for KTM to claim 4-6 results.

Saturday’s E2 affair was won by Christensen’s Motorcycles’ Daniel Milner, before series leader Hollis bounced back on Sunday.

The Women’s class on Sunday stormed home in the same order as in round five, with ISDE stars Jemma Wilson (Yamaha) and Jess Gardiner (Ballard’s Yamaha Off-Road rider) taking out first and second ahead of Swedish rider Emelie Karlsson taking out third.

Round seven and eight of the 2011 Yamaha Australian Off Road Championship will be held on 10 and 11 September on private property at Mt Seaview, NSW.

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