    |
 |
|
|
|
Photo - ISDE 2006 Manager, Sean Clarke:
Photo courtesy of Andy McGechan:
Email Andy:
New Zealand has been confirmed as hosts of the 2006 ISDE. Arthur Klap (Wellington) is to chair a separate company formed to conduct the event and Sean Clarke is to manage the event. Stuff.co.nz: reports that:
Motorcycling New Zealand chief executive Trevor Gill returned from France this week with final confirmation that this country will host the 2006 "Olympics of motorcycling", the International Six-Day Enduro (ISDE) world teams championship.
New Zealand had been granted the 2006 hosting rights from the International Motorcyling Federation (FIM) last year. But until Gill met with ABC Limited, the worldwide rights holder to the ISDE, during the recent FIM meeting in Paris, hosting the event had not been fully confirmed.
"It is 100 per cent go now to host the ISDE in the Kaingaroa forest near Taupo from November 14 to 19 in 2006," Gill said yesterday.
Allan Blanchard, owner of Paris-based ABC Ltd, was to visit New Zealand next year in relation to the running of the event, Gill added.
Already the event has drawn sharp interest from New Zealand riders such as reigning world MX2 champion Ben Townley, world MX1 number 3, Josh Coppins, and 1996 world 500cc champion Shayne King.
Gill said the FIM had stressed that New Zealand should have a strong marketing presence at next year's event in Finland.
New Zealand have a patchy but good record in the ISDE, having won the six-man team bronze in 1983 in Wales and the four- and six-man teams won the Watling Trophy for Most Improved Team in 1992 in NSW, Australia.
New Zealand finished seventh in the six-man event and fifth in the Junior Trophy in 1998, in Victoria, Australia.
No teams were sent to Poland this year where expatriate New Zealander Stefan Merriman, riding in Australian colours, won the individual gold medal.
"We will be sending a team to participate in Finland next year," Gill confirmed.
Meanwhile, the exploits of Coppins and Townley on the world circuit had raised New Zealand's motocross profile to a new high with the FIM and the organisation had granted New Zealand $US25,000 ($NZ37,000) towards hosting next year's Oceania championships in Wellington.
