Column - Jonty's Box - To The Extreme
By TMX Archives on 8th Jun 06
Designed to be the spectator focal point of modern day world championship enduros, extreme tests are now loathed by most riders which kinda begs the question 'just how extreme should extreme be?'
In the top left-hand corner on page one of KTM's 950 Super Enduro R promotional brochure, in bright orange letters, is a short attention grabbing sentence that says simply 'extreme is not extreme enough'. It's one of a number of high impact headlines that subconsciously help build a visual image of the bike's capabilities. But when that same sentence is applied to the WEC it most certainly doesn't hold water. Extreme - as far as the WEC is concerned - has certainly become extreme enough.
More than any other topic surrounding the world's premier enduro series, extreme tests are now the most talked about subject in the WEC paddock. Be it riders asking for extreme tests to be modified, riders sounding off about other rider's concerns or organising clubs proclaiming that their extreme test is the best there has ever been - extreme tests are the hot potato of the enduro world championship.
In just four short seasons extreme special tests have had a bigger impact on the WEC than any other single change. And as far as many are concerned for all the wrong reasons too. Initially introduced to help make enduro a more spectator friendly sport, the extreme test has come a long way since it was first included in a world championship event in Italy in '92 yet done little to improve the world enduro championship. In fact, the sooner the powers-that-be see sense and ditch the troublesome tests the better as far as I'm concerned.
The idea of introducing extreme tests alongside both enduro and motocross stages was a seemingly harmless one way back when the WEC had no series promoter. First included in Italy - but not counting towards the event's results - the very first extreme test seemed to be exactly what the WEC needed. Easy for spectators to assess, the short, sharp burst of adrenaline-charged entertainment was also great for TV.
Offering a separate prize, those riders focused solely on winning a world title could take their time to complete the series of hazardous natural obstacles while more adventurous riders were able to give it their all, risk damaging themselves and their bikes and go balls out for glory.
Problems started as soon as the FIM applied pressure on all clubs to include extreme tests in WEC events. If spectators won't travel out of their villages and towns to come and watch enduro then enduro will come to them was the FIM's initial philosophy behind their introduction.
What followed was something that should never have happened. The world's best enduro riders - the same talented, brave, athletic, skilful and determined bunch of riders that were used to battling it out in forests across Europe - were suddenly forced to act like performing seals.
Gone was exciting, natural terrain replaced more often than not with flat, slow speed, man-made extreme tests - often on wasteland on the outskirts of towns. Like a painfully uninteresting circus show, instead of showing off their skill and bravery riders would barely reach speeds of 20mph as they struggled to ride over trials obstacles. As one world champion pointed out at the time enduro bikes have a six-speed gearbox for a reason so why are we now only using two gears?
What had only a season or two before been an exciting new introduction was already giving very boring, very slow and very uninteresting action. The riders weren't happy yet the FIM turned a blind eye. While special tests had been brought closer to civilisation the action had well and truly been left out in the forests.
Disappointingly, things aren't any better today. In fact they are a whole lot worse. There have been some great extreme tests during the past two season - the all-natural tests in France in '04 and '05 spring to mind - but there have also been some truly awful man-made tests as well. Now that each organising club must have an extreme test included in their WEC event the ***t has well and truly hit the fan.
Basically there were two things that the majority of the world's best riders asked for when extreme tests were first introduced - that they be included only when suitable natural terrain allowed and that they were run as a separate 'show' for the public. Neither request was listened to.
While watching those that enjoy the challenges of extreme tests is entertaining, watching a rider like David Knight wrestle his factory KTM through a high-speed rutted uphill climb on an enduro test is much more enjoyable and interesting. Take away the speed and you take away the excitement.
Knowing just how talented Knighter is, watching the world's best enduro rider complete an extreme test without putting either foot down just doesn't do it for me. If I were into watching slow speed bikes hop across logs and up steep climbs I'd go and watch trials.
Extreme tests now have to be all-natural and, well, extremely extreme thanks to an FIM re-think which now means that they are no longer the easy to access, spectator friendly stages they were designed to be. Combining all the hardest, most difficult sections of enduro and motocross tests into a two-minute stage they have become the motorcycling equivalent of watching paint dry. Too easy for Knighter and a very select group of riders, they are too difficult for the majority of youngsters venturing into the sport for the first time. Which in itself isn't good for the sport.
Extreme tests are also playing a key role in deciding world championship titles. Make a mistake on an extreme test - which is easily done - and an event or season worth of hard work can be undone in an instant.
But the most worrying thing about extreme tests is the message they convey about the world's best riders. With the WEC now beamed into hundreds of millions of houses - or whatever the official viewing figures are - the world's best riders are more often than not seen competing at speeds so slow a sun dial could be used to time them or struggling like a bunch of inexperienced beginners - which they're not. And that certainly isn't good for the image of the WEC...