Dusty names British ISDE hit squad
By TMX Archives on 18th Jul 07
THE names of the riders that will represent Great Britain in this year's 82nd International Six Days Enduro in Chile were confirmed by British ISDE team manager, Dusty Martin, at the Putoline Hafren Enduro, with one very significant change having been made to the Trophy Team since it was originally announced just over a week earlier.
Chris Hockey will be replacing David Knight in the Trophy team, as David is unable to compete due to commitments at the Endurocross event in Las Vegas, which clashes with the Six Days,'' explained Dusty. ''Obviously I am very disappointed that Knighter is unable to compete in the ISDE, but I fully understand that he has to comply with the wishes of his sponsors.''
Knighter had expressed a very real interest in competing in the ISDE this year having missed last year's ISDE due to competing in Vegas. He hoped he would be able to return to the ISDE this year but his participation in the United States' biggest indoor event has been requested by KTM, which means he will now have to wait at least one more year before returning to the ISDE - the event he won outright in Slovakia in 2006.
''I really hoped that I'd be able to contest the ISDE this year,'' explained David, but both Red Bull and KTM want me to race the new Endurocross series in the US. The last round is during the same week as the Six Days so it means I'm unable to race in Chile, which I'm disappointed about.''
The British Trophy team, to be known as the Optoma Loans British Trophy team following the appointment of Optoma Loans as the squad's naming sponsor, will now consist of Tom Sagar, Edward Jones, Euan McConnell, Paul Edmondson, Chris Hockey and Dylan Jones, with experienced Scot Richard Hay the official reserve.
''Although the Trophy Team has been changed the Junior Trophy Team consists of a number of rising enduro talents and includes Lee Edmondson, Greg Evans, Ollie Moyce and Ashley Wood with first reserve being Darren Carter and second reserve Gethin Price.
''I am looking forward to working with the Team. The sponsorship from Optoma Loans helps terrifically, it really does make the difference between some riders being able to compete or not, because of that the GB Team is looking very strong for the ISDE.
''I believe both the Trophy team and the Junior Team are easily capable of a top five finish, with our main rivals as always looking like Finland, France and Italy.
''We will be training hard between now and November to achieve the results we are capable of.''
Two riders missing from the British squad are Daryl Bolter and Si Wakely. Both committed to and performing well in, the British and European Enduro Championship, the duo decided not to put their names forward for the Chilean event, instead focusing on competing in the four-round EEC series.