ISDE heads back to Europe
By TMX Archives on 28th Aug 08
The 83rd running of the International Six Days Enduro (ISDE) starts in Greece on Monday, September 1, when 453 riders and their support crews descend upon Serres a town that, in recent years, has twice hosted rounds of the World Enduro Championship. Taking place in Chile last year, and New Zealand the year before that, the Greek event welcomes the ISDE back to Europe with Britain once again sending a Trophy and Junior Trophy team as well as five three-man Club teams
BACK in Europe after two years of long-haul' overseas events, during which time the ISDE was held in New Zealand and Chile, the 83rd running of the prestigious competition returns to Europe where the Greek town of Serres will host this year's event.
Little detailed information is known about the tracks and trails that will be used in this year's event. But one thing that is known is that the area around Serres will likely make for an enjoyable ISDE as Serres has successfully hosted two WEC events and both ended with competitors having enjoyed the Greek terrain. With forests, mountains and a lot of rocks many of the routes used will likely be similar, if not quite as sandy, as those faced by riders in Chile last year.
In the Trophy Team competition, last year's winners Italy will start as the team to beat but, with a team that's not overly impressive, they will have to ride well in order to match their '07 result. Italy's most likely challengers will be France, Australia and Finland. Despite not having last year's E2 class winner Johnny Aubert among their squad, as the Yamaha rider has opted to concentrate on the WEC this season, the French team still has a solid line-up of riders, which is every bit as strong as the Italian team.
The Finnish squad once the dream team' of the Six Days, certainly don't start as favourites, due to the loss of team members Samuli Aro and Eero Remes through injury. They still have a strong side, one that now features seven-times world champion Kari Tiainen who has come out of retirement, having last competed for the Finnish Trophy team back in '03, when Finland were victorious in Brazil.
One team that could surprise the established European front runners is Australia. With the terrain in Greece likely to suit Team Oz better than most, while not all of Australia's riders are household names they have a team that mixes youth with experience.
So what of Britain's chances? Well, with just one full-time rider competing among the six Trophy team riders, if Team GB can match the fifth place result they achieved last year they'll have done well. Very well. Tom Sagar will be expected to deliver the squad's best individual result and having finished fourth in the E1 class in Chile, having never raced aboard a 250cc four-stroke before, will be hoping to place top three in Serres.
For the majority of Britain's Trophy team riders, competing in dry, rocky and dusty conditions will be a shock to the system after the very wet British summer. Si Wakely will be hoping to perform well on his Trophy team debut. Si will be the team's only Enduro 2 class competitor aboard his 450cc Husqvarna.
Ed Jones will be another Brit competing alone as the KTM-mounted rider will race in the E3 class. Joining Sagar in the E1 class will be Dylan Jones, Daryl Bolter and Jason Thomas. With Daryl competing after an injury-enforced lay-off, Dylan will be looking for another Six Days finish, while Jason Thomas, who has raced in the States and Canada this season, will be looking to mix things up at the sharp-end of the class.
In the Junior Trophy category, no one country stands out head-and-shoulders above any other. With Spain, France and Finland filling the top three places last year, Italy, on paper at least, have the strongest squad with France also fielding a strong team. Britain's four riders, Lee Edmondson, Ashley Wood, Ollie Moyce and Jamie Paget could, if things go their way, come away with a top six result.
With just two British Club teams having opted to travel to Chile last year, BAFMA and West of England, this time around, five British Club teams will take to the start. Wales A, which consists of Andrew Edwards, Jon Hinam and Tim Foreman, and Wales B, which consists of Craig Bounds, David Brick and Gethin Price, make a welcome return to the event while Southern MCC Isle of Man team of Karl Greenall, Andy Waltin and John Burrow will be flying the flag for the IoM.
The British Armed Forces Motorcycle Association team of Darren Wilcock, Darren Hughes and Kev Murray will be hoping for a good result and will be joined by the fifth British Club team West of England and their riders Andy Elliot, Julian Crimp and Justin Wilson.
The 83rd running of the ISDE starts on Monday, September 1 and runs until Saturday, September 6.