Yamaha Motor Australia press release:

Tomorrow’s fourth and final day of the 2016 Australian Four Day Enduro will mark the final day of competition for CDR Yamaha’s, Chris Hollis. The 32 year old New South Welshmen has decided the time is right to retire from professional racing at the end of this years’ event and begin the next chapter of his life.

The long time off road racer is looking forward to his final day of racing and at the same time reflecting back over a long and distinguished career.

“It will be a day of mixed emotions for me as racing has played such a huge part of my life and there are so many aspects that I will miss. The friends made along the way, seeing places you wouldn’t normally go and being able to see the world with the freedom of riding a motorcycle are all things that mean the most to me.

“But I feel the time is right to step down from racing at this level and explore other options in my life, so I’m excited to see what the future brings.

“I would like to thank so many people who have been a part of my racing over the last 20 years. The teams and sponsors I have raced for, my family and friends for their continued support and the hundreds of people that made racing fun.”

While Hollis will still throw a leg over a bike in the future, the immediate future will see him continue he sales consultancy role with Laing + Simmons in his home town of Port Macquarie, which he started in September and continue his transition into the business world.

“I don’t think I could walk away from riding and just move on. I still love riding a dirt bike and getting out in the bush or motocross track will have me smiling from ear to ear, because at the end of the day, that’s how it all started. That will never leave me.”

Hollis has been a multi time Australian Off-Road champion, winning in 2008 and 2011, as well winning the 2008 Australian Four Day Enduro. He has represented Australia six times at the International Six Day Enduro (I6DE) and won a gold medal on every campaign. He even competed at the X- Games in 2014 and the Erzberg Rodeo in 2008.

He has also been a member of the Yamaha supported off road teams twice during his career, once under the guidance of Geoff Ballard and the other with CDR Yamaha and Craig Dack.

“I have been with Yamaha for the majority of my career and they have been a fantastic supporter of not just myself but also off road racing in Australia. Both Geoff and Craig have been friends and mentors of mine and I respect both guys in what they have done for my career. I have made some great friends within Yamaha and will continue to be a part of the Yamaha family in the future.

“Thank you to Yamaha as they have allowed me to fulfill a childhood dream of being a professional racer. It really is the best job in the world,” Hollis ends.

Yamaha’s Motorsport Manager, Ray Howard, also passed on his congratulations to Chris on his career.

“On behalf of Yamaha Motor Australia, I would like to thank Chris on his effort and contribution to off road racing in Australia and to Yamaha. He has been a thorough professional to deal with over the time and he can be proud of his achievements in racing. He is leaving elite level on his terms and even during the 2016 A4DE, he has proven just how fast and competitive he is.

“We wish him well in his future endeavours and I’m sure we will see him out on the trail in the future,” Howard ends.