The Australian Four Day Enduro will fire into life tomorrow morning at Koumala, near Mackay, in Queensland.

The 180 competitors and hundreds of support crew and fans have descended on the region and are ready for what is set to be a star-studded Yamaha Yamalube Cycra GYTR A4DE.

Riders will start with four special tests, two enduro test pre-rides and 145 kilometers of trail for tomorrow’s opening day.

The schedule for days two through three will be very similar, with a final motocross event on Sunday at the Gum Valley Motocross Track.

The event incorporates five special tests in total (the Yamaha Cross Test, KTM Enduro Test, Husqvarna ET, Cycra CT and Pirelli CT), mostly based around the Gum Valley facility.

“The tests are fast, which is good – we usually have really tight tests here in Australia,” Chris Hollis, of the Ballard’s Yamaha Team, said.

“There’s a lot of speed involved, and they’re really safe in around the cane fields. Really good soil.”

Reigning championship E2 Class and Outright winner, Toby Price, has had a little less time to pre-walk the special tests than other riders who didn’t compete in the Hattah Desert Race.

Price only arrived to Koumala Monday afternoon after taking a convincing win of the event on Sunday.

“It’s been a pretty hectic weekend, but coming off a win at Hattah I’m feeling pretty good for the four-day and looking forward to it,” Price said.

Price said he has a game plan for defending his title, which is one of the most important on the national off-road calendar.

“Stay near the front of the field for the first three days, then leave it all for that fourth day,” Price said. “If I can stay within a few seconds or maybe just pull a bit of a lead, just have to stay on two wheels and stay fit and healthy and it will be all good.”

In the 2011 A4DE, riders of all skill levels – from Clubman to Pro – from every Australian state and New Zealand will be vying for class and Outright honours.

There is also a state-versus-state element to the event, with the top riders from each state competing on Junior and Senior Trophy Teams.

Battle for the class and Outright crown will be as heated as ever, with last year’s victor Price set to go head-to-head with current Yamaha AORC points leader Hollis.

Queensland will also have some big talent on its side, with multi-Australian Off-Road Champion, AJ Roberts and four-time Australian Enduro Champion ‘King’ Kirk Hutton.

The A4DE is a true test of man and machine as competitors will spend about 25 hours on their bikes and cover around 800kms.

An impressive 10 women riders have entered to compete. Yamaha racer, Jessica Gardiner, will be defending her title, after winning her first ever A4DE in Portland last year.