Geoff Ballard (right) is confident his Yamaha squad can pick up an Outright win in 2012. Image: Adam Riemann.

Australian Enduro legend Geoff Ballard isn’t ruling out an Outright win for his Ballard’s Yamaha Park and Fly Off-Road Team when the Yamaha Australian Off-Road Championship continues next month.

The current AORC season has so far been dominated by Motorex KTM’s 2010 champion Toby Price, who has won all but won round out of the first eight contested. The other round was won by Price’s KTM teammate Chris Hollis, who won the AORC title for Yamaha in 2011.

But Ballard remains focused on the job at hand with riders Matthew Phillips, Stefan Merriman and Daniel Milner, looking to claim at least one Outright round win with four remaining in 2012.

“You’re always happiest if you’re winning Outright, no doubt,” Ballard admitted. “But ultimately Toby’s the quickest guy in the country. He had a down year last year with a few injuries, but from the word go we’d figure he’d be the one to beat and he is.”

While Phillips and Merriman maintain development of the 2012 WR450F, the team has had a surprise threat in Milner challenging for victory at times on the YZ250F that he’s leading the E1 ranks aboard.

“Milner’s the one who seems to be able to get closest to him and he’s elevated himself this year,” Ballard continued. “Matty’s had a few little injuries and dramas along the way, but it would be great to beat Toby and I think we can because we’ve been close at times.

“We’re in a good position, winning E1 and E2, plus being second in E3.”

Phillips leads the E2 standings at this stage, plus he’s second Outright behind Price. Merriman’s second in E3 and fourth Outright, while Milner’s running away with the E1 championship and is third Outright.

To read our exclusive insight with Ballard from today’s Off-Road Observer, click here.