Hollis signs with Husqvarna

Reigning national off-road and Australian four day enduro champion Chris Hollis has defected from Yamaha to Husqvarna for 2009.

Hollis will ride a variety of bikes from the Italian manufacturer's TE range of four-strokes, while Victorian Jehi Willis will pilot the new WR300 two-stroke.

"The Huskies are very different to what I'm used to, but they perform well," said Hollis. "I've been playing around on a stock TE450 and already I feel right at home with the way the bike rides. It's good for my confidence in that I'm already as fast as I need to be on my practice tracks and I haven't even adjusted a clicker or played around with the standard suspension package.

"I think by the time I've got the bike up to factory-spec, I'll be ready to step it up another level for next year."

Hollis will have to be at the top of his game, because four-time world enduro champion Stefan Merriman will compete in Australia next year, replacing Hollis as Yamaha's blue-chip rider.

"It's great for our sport to have Stefan here to compete against," said Hollis. "He's still capable of being the best in the world, which means I'll be elevating my own performance every time I race against him in Australia."

In between his local commitments, Hollis will also compete in selected rounds of next year's world enduro title.