Ballance entered this season on a winning streak nearly unprecedented in ATV racing. In 2004, he earned his fifth GNCC ATV championship – and full factory support from Yamaha.

As a result, one key advantage Ballance now enjoys is freedom: because of the level of support he receives, he can concentrate on improving his machinery and his skills unhindered by distractions. As he told Maxxis, the additional training time has also meant that he began the 2005 season in better physical shape than ever.

There are other benefits to his relationship with Yamaha, which extends through 2006: “I have more equipment in my hands at this time of year than I ever had before,” he noted prior to the beginning of the GNCC schedule. Ballance, who was the first rider to win a GNCC championship with a four-stroke ATV, recalls that in previous years, he was sometimes scrambling to put everything in place for his ride as late as two or three weeks before the start of the season.

Full factory support from a company like Yamaha also gives a much needed pat-on-the-back to a racer. As Ballance notes, this recognition of his achievements has given him a little extra confidence. And the 2005 line-up is Yamaha’s first-ever ATV factory team, making the honor of Ballance’s selection even greater.

Ballance is grateful to Maxxis for the years of support which have helped him to arrive at this point. He’s been especially gratified to work with the company’s research and development team, giving them the feedback which translates to an ever-improving Maxxis product.