Ballard’s Yamaha’s Chris Hollis has been at his consistent best in 2011, resulting in the Yamaha Australian Off Road Championship wins in both the E2 category and Outright.

Despite not winning a round overall during the year, Hollis picked up a total of six podiums during the nine-round season, including five seconds and a third place.

It’s been a interesting number of years for Hollis in the euduro ranks, winning the AORC title and A4DE in 2008 before switching to Husqvarna the following season and then heading to contest the world championship in 2010.

A return home to be reunited with Geoff Ballard on the factory Yamaha team in Australia has proven a good move for Hollis after injury hampered his form last year.

MotoOnline.com.au caught up with the 27-year-old from Port Macquarie to reflect on the current season, plus to find out what’s coming up next in his career.

Congratulations on winning your second AORC title. You had no wins, but consistency got the job done…

Thanks, Alex. Yeah, no wins for me was a little bit of a bummer. I came so close a lot this year, but at the end of the year consistency is a vital part.

You won the title in 2008 and then have had an up and down few years, so how does this title compare to the previous one?

It feels different for sure – still great, but I don’t think anything can compare to the first one. This championship still means a lot. After I broke both my arms in Europe last year I was not sure how I would recover.

I knew I could still ride fast and do the work, I just had not had any good results for a few years. That starts to take its toll after a while, so its great to get my second title this year.

This year saw you return to Yamaha on the YZ450F, which must have felt like coming home for you considering your past success with the Ballard’s team.

When I came home I jumped straight back into my old role with Yamaha. At first I took a while to warm up to the YZ over the WR, but once I spent some time on the YZ I was a lot happier and ready to go racing.

What was the highlight of the season for you?

Highlight for me would have been the first two days at the A4DE battling out with Toby [Price]. We were both on the edge in the super fast tests and I was actually scared a little, which was a good feeling.

It was a duel off to see who made the first mistake, which ended up being myself and Toby just started edging away from me.

You came from the world championship last year, so how does the AORC series compare? Is it totally different?

It is totally different. Our Sprint speed here is really good, we just don’t have the technical terrain that they race on over there. It’s the same for the Euros. Since I’ve been around, Juha Salminen and David Night are the only two guys who have came and won.

But given the level back then compared to now, I think it wouldn’t be so easy for them.

The AORC series is full of world-class riders, both young and old, so what’s next for you? Do you still have the ambition to race overseas?

I’m staying in Australia for now. The racing here is good and I like living here. I may dabel in a few overseas rounds here and there, but that’s about it for now.

Well done on a great season.

Thanks.