Motorex KTM Off Road Racing team rider Toby Price leads Mackay’s 2011 running of the Australian Four Day Enduro after day one.

Reigning A4DE Outright winner Price just snuck in front of closest rival Chris Hollis (Yamaha) to take the lead of championship E2 and Outright in day one of the Yamaha Yamalube Cycra GYTR A4DE.

Hollis, 26, was in the lead after the first test, but lost precious seconds from a crash in the fourth and final special test of the day.

The event is being held at Koumala and Gum Valley, just south of Mackay, until Sunday.

Price, 22, said he was riding in survival mode today.

“I’ve got some pretty big blisters from Hattah at the moment,” Price said.

“I had a crash at Hattah and hurt my ribs a bit there as well… just making sure I get to the fourth day so I can just stay near the front and should be all good and hopefully by then I’ll be all healed up and ready to go.

“A couple of tests I felt a bit slow out there… just have to try and pick the pace up a bit coming into some of the turns .

“But I’m feeling pretty good and the bike’s really good, handling well, so I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”

Hollis said his crash in the last test was due to a front end wash-out.

“I lost the front there for a little bit and kissed the ground,” Hollis said. “Picked it up and kept going, but I lost a lot of time. But there were only four tests today and me and Toby are really close. Tomorrow we’ve got six tests and I’ll try and make it back up then.

“We’ve got one new test tomorrow that we do twice, which is a good grass track. So things are looking good. I’m riding good and my bike’s working good, I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”

Third in the class and Outright is Yamaha rider Daniel Milner, from Victoria.

Another rider who came to grief in the final test of the day was young Tasmanian, Matt Phillips (Yamaha).

Phillips, 18, crashed and knocked himself out in the last test, but was still able to maintain his lead of championship E3 over Motorex KTM’s Jarrod Bewley.

“I’m fairly happy with how I went,” Phillips said. “I was running third Outright until the last test and I had a big crash and knocked myself out.

“But I’m stoked to be leading the class so far and hopefully I can hold that lead and get back up there in the outrights by pushing hard and staying on the bike.”

Fellow Yamaha pilot, Stefan Merriman, leads championship E1, after taking the win in three out of four special tests.

“I was a little bit nervous to start with, took me a bit to get into it… in the first test I was a bit slow,” Merriman said.

“And then I got quicker and quicker and had a good day. It was really good out there.

“The ground’s quite dry and slippery – when you’re racing it’s always a challenge to stay on. But the trails look good, it’s going to be a good four day.”

Outright, TM’s Josh Green is sixth, followed by Merriman in seventh, Salvini in eighth, Bartosz Oblucki ninth)and Glenn Kearney in 10th.

In the championship Women’s, YZ250F pilot Jemma Wilson (from Brisbane) leads the class ahead of New Zealander, Natasha Cairns. Reigning champ, Jessica Gardiner (Yamaha) sits third.

Fellow Brisbane rider and motocross legend, James Deakin, is ahead of five-time Master’s class winner, Geoff Ballard. Deakin is riding his first ever enduro.

And it’s another Queenslander, Matt Dumigan, who leads another star-studded field in Veteran’s. Second in the class is Motorex KTM rider and team manager, Brad Williscroft. Damian Smith (Husqvarna) sits third.

2011 Australian Four Day Enduro
Mackay, QLD

Outright Standings after Day One:
1. Toby Price, KTM E2
2. Chris Hollis, YAMAHA E2
3. Daniel Milner, YAMAHA E2
4. Matt Phillips, YAMAHA E3
5. Jarrod Bewley, KTM E3
6. Josh Green, TM E2
7. Stefan Merriman, YAMAHA E1
8. Alex Salvini, HUSQVARNA E1
9. Bartosz Oblucki, HUSQVARNA E2
10. Glenn Kearney, HUSQVARNA E2