[News]

My Backyard ft. Geoff Ballard

6 years ago | Words: Andy Wigan | Photos: Salvatore Aloisio, Jarrad Duffy

Some people like riding. Some love it. Some are addicted to it. And then there’s Geoff Ballard; a man whose five-decade relationship with motorcycles borders on obsession. He may be on the ripe side of 60 these days, but “GB” – as he’s known to his mates – still has more enthusiasm for motorcycles than a paddock full of moto groms. Whether it’s riding, testing, adventuring, tinkering or just talking about dirt bikes, GB’s energy is infectious. He’ll ride a bike of any brand or any vintage, so long as he’s behind bars of something with two wheels and a motor.
During a racing career that’s spanned 50 years, Ballard not only won national titles in Australia and USA; he also started and ran his own motorcycle parts and accessories business, launched the Thumper Nats series, and ran official race teams for Honda and Yamaha. And in recognition of his services to the motorcycle industry, he was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the 2005 Australia Day Honours List – joining Wayne Gardner and Mick Doohan as the only Australian racers to receive the honour.
These days, GB splits his time between Queensland’s Gold Coast, where he’s a part owner of online parts and accessories giant, MXstore, and his rustic rural cottage near the NSW Central Tablelands township of Hampton – a stone’s throw from the Blue Mountains, where Geoff first got the dirt bike bug way back in 1972.
So, Transmoto, in partnership with Volkswagen Amarok Australia, is proud to present “My Backyard”, featuring Geoff Ballard in his native habitat: Hampton’s prime riding terrain.

Be the first to comment...

You might also like...

KTM

1 week ago

KTM RACING READY FOR 2026 PROMX

The orange team enters the 2026 ProMX opener at Wonthaggi with a motivated four-rider lineup.

News

1 week ago

MXGP DOUBLE PODIUM FOR TRIUMPH

Triumph kicked off 2026 with Farres second and McLellan third overall in MX2 at the MXGP of Argentina.

News

1 week ago

TEAM AUS SET FOR OCEANIA MX DEFENCE

Team Australia will chase a third straight victory at the 2026 FIM Oceania Women’s Motocross Cup.

A1

1 week ago

RACELINE HUSQVARNA PARTNER WITH YOSHI

Yoshimura Australia partners with Raceline Husqvarna TDUB Racing for the 2026 Aus ProMX Championship.

KTM

1 week ago

KTM Australia Backs 2026 MX65 Futures

The KTM Group will continue their MX65 Futures class support in the 2026 Australian ProMX Championship.

KTM

1 week ago

DOUBLE PODIUM AT AEC FOR DM31 RACING

Jye Dickson finished second in ProEnduro and Korey McMahon third before heavy rain cut the weekend short.

News

2 weeks ago

WALKER SECOND OVERALL IN SUPERENDURO

Triumph’s Jonny Walker secured runner-up in the SuperEnduro World Championship aboard the TF450-E.

News

2 weeks ago

YAMAHA’S RUPRECHT RULES IN ROMA

The ShopYamaha Off Road rider dominated Round 1 before rain cut the weekends racing short.