Day one of the 2012 Yamaha WR450F Australian 4 Day Enduro (A4DE) at Warragul has wrapped up with Ballard’s Yamaha Off-Road rider Daniel Milner clinching top spot on the opening day of competition.

The Victorian local topped a field of more than 180 competitors, who headed out of Parc Ferme at Buln Buln Sports Ground straight into 190 kilometres of trail and five special tests.

Milner recorded the fastest overall time of the day, winning three of five special tests to beat defending Outright Champion Toby Price (Motorex KTM Off-Road) by a margin of 9.5 seconds across the day.

Multi-time World Enduro Champion Stefan Merriman (Ballard’s Yamaha Off-Road) clocked the day’s third best time, finishing just 25 seconds off the lead.

Milner’s impressive pace saw him comfortably lead the E1 Class ahead of Victorian rider Peter Boyle (Honda) and Italian master Alex Salvini (Husqvarna), who has returned to Australia for his second A4DE contest.

2004 Outright Champion Glenn Kearney (Husqvarna) emerged as the early E2 Class front runner, outpacing class rivals Josh Green (Active8 Yamaha Yamalube) and Matt Phillips (Ballard’s Yamaha Off-Road). It was a tough day for Phillips, who won the first test of the day before being knocked down the ranks with mechanical issues and an afternoon crash.

Price, who recently returned from the International Six Day Enduro (ISDE) in Germany, scored the best time in the E3 Class to cement himself as class leader in front of Stefan Merriman and Daniel Sanders (Bolton’s KTM).

Reigning Women’s Champion Jessica Gardner (Yamaha) laid down the foundations for a strong defence campaign, clocking up more than a minute’s buffer between herself and closest foes Emelie Karlsson (Yamaha) and Tanya Hearn (Pro Rider KTM).