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I have pilfered this article describing the 2003 Xtreme Lumezzane Enduro as it puts a perspective on this supreme event which sorts the men from the boys and also on this years man, Stefan Merriman, the Kiwi with an Aussie passport.
Xtreme Lumezzane 2003:
Update: A Picture of `The Hill`:
Last year I was invited by the Motorclub Lumezzane to experience their first Xtreme Lumezzane. This club organized the 1997 ISDE in Northern Italy and came up with the idea to replace the Gilles Lalay Classic. I really liked the event that was run in world championship Enduro format and was planning to come back with some American riders. My mission to find 2 top Enduro riders from the USA was not easy. Many top American riders have restrictions from their team bosses including Mike Lafferty and Jason Raines. I found East Coast Veteran Fred Hoess and Colorado`s top gun and last years Trophy rider Ron Schmelzle willing to accept my invitation to tackle the toughest race in the World. Ron and I left from Denver and met Fred and his friend John Hummel at the Newark airport. From there we flew direct to Milan where Dario Agrati was waiting for us. Dario is well known in the European Enduro world and is author of the book `Off Road Champions`. Even though we where dead tired from our trip, Dario took us to see Ariete (a small Italian grip manufactory), Domino/Tommaselli (OEM throttles, grips and handlebars on most European bike) and a winery that sponsored the world championship round in Italy. All companies gave us a tour which was very interesting.
After a good nights sleep we toured Brescia the next day and met Dario again the following morning. He took us to the Park Ferme where everything was organized to the detail even though it was only 2 days prior to the start of the event. Not having a car to ourselves limited us a bit but the fun factor was still high when Dario took us for a quick ride to see the special test. One beautiful grass track laid out on some rolling hills, another in a rocky valley under a high bridge. For the people that were at the \'97 ISDE, these tests were both part of the 6 days that year. Fred and Ron got really scared when they saw a big bulldozer altering a hill side that was going to be part of the night stage. They both thought that they were crazy. \"This is going to be impossible\" they said multiple times. Later on Fred and Ron where able to see the finished product and thought that it may be possible to get to the top without assistance. Dario assured them not to worry: \"There will be lots of people to help you”. “Don’t worry”, he said in his strong Italian accent.
On Friday Ron’s Yamaha and Fred\'s Husqvarna arrived. Ron was going to be assisted by Team UFO/Yamaha and Fred was riding with Team Mucci/Husqvarna. Fred’s bike arrived very late, cutting back into his preparation and time to walk the second special test. Fred had a commitment from Marco Bainchi (big boss at Husqvarna) to supply him a bike, which fell through a few days prior to the race. Team Mucci stepped in and gave Fred the practice bike of one of their riders. This is where everything went bad for Fred. The bike was not serviced recently and needed a lot of work. Fred and John tried their best to get the bike in working order while I searched for two gas can. Apparently the deal with Team Mucci was for a bike, not including gas. I asked several teams if they had extra gas cans, but nobody did. I managed to get Fred’s tank half full before Fred impounded his bike, still hoping somebody could borrow us two gas cans. Gabriele Bugati, one of the main forces behind the race, promised us two cans that he had sitting at his house. Problem solved you think.
While Fred and John were working on the bike, I was calling the AMA to get Fred an FIM license. Fred did not get himself a FIM license and the organizer did not accept just an AMA license. After several hours of negotiating and multiple phone calls, the Italian Federation gave him permission to ride under their federation (FMI). Ron on the other hand had a mechanic assisting him to set up his bike and was able to relax for most of the day.
Saturday arrived and Gabriele Bugati had not yet delivered the gas cans. Fred was standing on the starting podium with a bike half full of gas, most likely going to run out of gas before he would reach the first gas stop. Soon after Fred left the start, Gabriele Bugati got him two gas cans with gas. John quickly took them to the gas stop.
It was warming up quickly when we left to see the special test. We first drove to the grass track.Ron Schmelzle thought that this was the best special test he ever had ridden.
While Schmelzle was ripping up the test, we missed Hoess coming thru. Fred was OK but was out of the race with a broken bike. He never made it to the 1st special test. His day was over.
Ron, backed by Shift, Renthal, offroadchampions.com and Arai looked very comfortable on his UFO Yamaha just losing 1 route point on day 1. Many riders dropped out, not able to handle the trail pace and the severe beating the club put the riders thru. Mario Rinaldi took too much risk trying to clear a step down jump and crashed while Sala could not handle the pain of a broken pinky. Fabio Farioli quit with muscle cramps and fatigue with last years experience of missing his vacation due to a knee injury in the back of his mind, making sure that that would not happen this year. Most Italians go on vacation in the month of August with all factories shutting down for a whole month.
The riders rode 170 miles (6 loops) with a total of 18 special test and very tight transfer sections. Ninety percent was unpaved; most of them you would be better of on a trials bike. After 10 hours on the bike on Saturday the riders had a 3 hours rest period before they headed out for the two and a half-hour night stage. Two loops of 20 miles with one special test. The test under the bridge was lit up with bright lights hanging from the bridge, with at the end the steep staircase hill climb (Devils Hill climb the Italians called it). [See - Picture of `The Hill` ]
Many spectators were present (7000) to witness this spectacle. The riders started in reverse order with the DNF from the day stage first followed by the finishers with the last rider to attempt to make it up the Devils hill climb, Stefan Merriman. Only a dozen riders were able to make it to the top without assistance. Ron Schmelzle who used his trials skills to good use being one of them. If you were unfortunate to get stuck on the hill many willing spectators jumped out on the hill to assist you to the top. Fausto Scovolo managed to set the fastest time but was not a threat to the Overall due to his mechanical failure during the day stage. Ron Schmelzle thought that riding at night was one of the coolest things he ever done in his life.
Sunday was again hot and humid, making it difficult for the riders to cool down. Four laps this time for a total of 120 miles (6.5 hrs). Only the strongest riders survived this day. Out of the 60 starters 21 finished, Ron Schmelzle 16th Overall and 10th in the 2 stroke class. Later that day Ron received a nice Trophy and 200 Euro for his efforts. Merriman (Honda 250 CRE) showed everybody that he is the fittest Enduro rider in the world by charging hard all day and coming out on top with a 2:47 minute lead on number two Ivan Cervantes (winner of the 4 stroke class). The ex-moto crosser Cervantes took the race very serious and will be one of the top riders in the near future. Third went to Alessandro Botturi (KTM 450), whose parents still live in Lumezzane, making sure that the locals had something to cheer about. Last year’s winner Stefano Passeri (Yamaha 250 YZ) finished fourth and Paul Edmondson (Yamaha 250 YZ) in fifth.
Overall
1. Stefan Merriman 2 str Honda 2.01.31.58
2. Ivan Cervantes 4 str KTM -2.47.69
3. Alessandro Botturi 4 str KTM -3.52.07
4. Stefano Passeri 2 str Yamaha -4.07.39
5. Paul Edmondson 2 str Yamaha -4.17.23
6. Helder Rodrigues 2 str KTM -4.21.21
7. Andrea Belotti 2 str Husqvarna -6.25.66
8. Simone Albergoni 2 str KTM -6.27.85
9. Jani Laaksonen 2 str Gas Gas -7.17.34
10. Alessio Paoli 2 str KTM -7.42.45
16. Ron Schmelzle 2 str Yamaha -18.23.31
