Yamaha is shaping up as a serious contender for class and outright honours at the 2008 Hogs Breath Australian 4 Day Enduro in Warragul, with the manufacturer fielding a number of riders at the top of their game, gunning for victory.
The event, which celebrates its milestone 30th Anniversary this year, has attracted more local and international interest than ever and success here is one of the highest accolades a rider can claim in the sport.
The Four Day is often as punishing as it is rewarding, putting rider fitness and recovery at a premium.
In 2007, Ballard's Yamaha rider Chris Hollis eclipsed the efforts of all but one rider to grab a hard-fought second overall in what is often described as one of the most gutsy and inspired rides of recent years.
Hollis, who commands the outright lead of the 2008 Yamaha Australian Off Road Series, has left little to chance in preparation for the event which begins early on Thursday morning.
"I want to win the four day outright this year and I have been riding heaps and training. I also won my first race of the season, and the first New South Wales state event so I am feeling confident, even if there are some really fast guys from overseas here," said Hollis.
This year Hollis has been joined in the ultra-competitive Championship Class #4 (270cc - 450cc 4T) by teammate Jarrod Bewley, with both riders competing on the rock solid WR450F.
Bewley provided the greatest competition to his teammate at the opening dual-round stoush and is currently second in the Australian series.
He is confident he has the measure of his teammate and is determined to stick with the frontrunners throughout the 1000km plus journey.
Of the four days the event is held, riders will spend approximately 30 hours aboard their bikes tackling some of Australia's toughest and most unpredictable terrain by means of enduro and motocross tests.
The final day features the motocross decider, which will be fought out on a track similar to those seen in European competition.
Yamaha Motor Australia is pleased to announce its support of ex-pat Aussie and Yamaha Motor Canada rider Jake Stapleton who has travelled from his home in North America to line-up for his second shot at the A4DE in the space of four years.
Originally hailing from New South Wales' Hunter Valley, Stapleton was a clear class winner in 2005, and finished on the podium in the overall standings, claiming third outright.
With extensive experience in European and American competition, the 23-year-old is shaping up as an outright favourite to rival the other imports and a strong contingent of local riders.
"I haven't been back to Australia to race for a few year so I'm looking forward to this week's four-day, it's probably one of the more demanding enduro events a rider can face," he said.
"I'll be out to win it, it looks as though there's some pretty quick competition with a number of other riders from outside Australia choosing to have a go."
One rider who won't need any time to get up to speed is Ballard's Yamaha Team Principal Geoff Ballard.
Ballard has been present at almost all of the four-day showdowns since inception in 1979 and as a result has a good handle on the countryside the riders will be battling.
"We have a fleet of very solid Yamaha machines beneath us, which are certainly up to any challenge the four day can provide," said Ballard.
"Our team looks very strong again this year, certainly after Chris' 2007 performance he has shown he can go with the international riders, and Jarrod is on the pace as well," he said.
"It's such a big event, it's our single biggest event in Australian enduro competition, people travel from all over to compete, and the exposure and attention it gets makes the event bigger and better each year."
"I still love doing it, it has certainly changed since the first time I started racing though, the bikes needed much more maintenance and we didn't have access to the training and nutritional aids that we have today."
The Yamaha Queensland Off Road Team will be one to watch with former event winner Kirk Hutton at the helm.
Hutton won the Under 200cc 2T class for the second time last year and will be vying for another victory in Championship Class #2 (Over 220cc 2T) aboard his YZ250.
He is also aiming for a spot in the top 10 outright placings after finishing sixth last year.
Over 350 entries have been confirmed for the A4DE this year, and included in this figure are a number of the nation's top female riders who are sure to give the male majority a run for their money.
Yamaha privateer Alison Parker is a long-standing competitor in the A4DE and by far the leading light in the female ranks.
"We ride the same track and ride for as long as the guys do, and for the past two years the women's class has been the only one with a one-hundred percent finishing rate," explained Parker.
"Last time the A4DE visited Warragul, in 2004, it was a fantastic and challenging event in an incredible part of the country," she said.
"Winning here is certainly a big accolade and something I strive to do each year to back up my performance in the national championship."
"I'm competing on the WR250F which is proving to be a fantastic choice of bike for the Australian conditions."
Other Yamaha riders who are sure to shake up the field include the sibling pairing of Jacob and Todd Smith, who have experienced considerable success between them over the past two Condo 750 events.
Christensen's Motorcycles-backed rider and ISDE Junior Trophy campaigner Blake Hoare will be another rider threatening to upstage some of the bigger names at what is effectively a home event.
2008 Australian 4 Day Enduro Event Schedule
Thursday April 17: 4 Motocross tests, 2 Enduro tests (includes 2 test pre-rides)
Friday April 18: 4 Motocross tests, 2 Enduro tests (includes 2 test pre-rides)
Saturday April 19: 2 Motocross tests, 4 Enduro tests
Sunday April 20: Trail loop off and on-road, Final Motocross race
Further event information can be found online at www.a4de.com
