Event: Yamaha Australian Off Road Series – Round 1 & 2 Event: Location: Raymond Terrace Event: Date: 23^rd & 24^th April 2005 GREAT START AT YAMAHA AUSTRALIAN OFF ROAD SERIES FOR TEAM BALLARD’S Rounds 1 & 2 of the new Yamaha Australian Off Road Series got underway on the weekend at Raymond Terrace, and as always, Ballard’s Yamaha Motorex team riders were at the forefront of the action. The team’s number 1 rider, Damian Smith dominated the E1 class, winning both days comfortably on his WR250F. He was equally impressive in the outright results, coming home 3rd both days behind Husqvarna’s AJ Roberts and KTM’s Brad Williscroft. Geoff Ballard also claimed another double class win when he won the Expert Over 35’s class, which also placed him 4th outright Expert. The Woman’s Class saw a Ballard’s Quinnella with Alison Parker placing her WR250F in first position on both days and her YZ125 mounted teammate Melissa McKay was 2nd. Morgan Fitzgerald rode well on his YZ125 against a sea of small-bore thumpers to come home 5th in the E1 class on Saturday and Sunday, while his teammate Jason Cater picked up an 8th and 7th in the same class. Ryan Smart and Jarrod Bewley were both riding in the super competitive E2 class, with YZ250 mounted Smart coming home in 7th for both rounds, while Bewley was a few positions behind in 10th on both days. Next event for the Ballard’s Yamaha Motorex Team is round 8 of the NSW Off Road Championships, which is an Enduro at Holbrook on May 8th. SMITH CONTINUES DOMINATION IN AUSTRALIAN OFFROAD SERIES NSW rider Damian Smith brought his top form from the NSW Offroad Series into the national Australian Offroad Series on the weekend with an easy win in the Enduro 1 class and a third outright behind QLD’s Anthony Roberts and NSW’s Brad Williscroft. The inaugural round of the national series took place at Raymond Terrace in the form of a Rally Sprint, a cross between a traditional enduro and a sprint event. The start of the brand new series brought together Australia’s top riders from all states in the first national event outside the Australian Four Day Enduro. “To have a national series other than the Australian Four Day Enduro is really what the sport of offroad racing needed. For the first time we are able to gauge our performance against ALL the best riders in Australia more than once a year.” Smith enthuses. “I was really happy with my result on the weekend. Obviously the class win in both rounds was great, but the outright result is a credit to the WR250F – it really can cut it against the bigger capacities. I’ve put a fair bit of preparation time in as well, concentrating on my bike fitness in a range different of terrains and conditions. You never know what a race will bring.” Smith’s next race will be an Enduro on May 8^th at Holbrook.