Kiwi ISDE team.

Posted: Sat 27 May 2006

Provisional New Zealand Senior Trophy and Junior Trophy Team Selection.

Selectors for the New Zealand representative teams at the 2006 International Six Day Enduro (ISDE) are pleased to announce provisional teams for this event.

The ISDE is often called the Olympics of motorcycle sport. This annual event is coming to New Zealand for the first time and will be held in Taupo from November 14 to November 19 this year.

The event will attract up to 500 of the worlds best off-road motorcycle riders for six days of mentally and physically gruelling competition. This prestigious event is also a competition between nations with each nation fielding a senior team of six riders and a junior team of four riders under the age of 23.

The senior and junior teams compete for the ISDE World Trophy and are accordingly referred to as "Trophy Teams".

The New Zealand selectors set a selection criterion that included, but was not limited to:

  • Competitive on the International MX and/or Enduro circuit
  • Previous ISDE experience
  • Probability of a high class placing
  • A good team representative for New Zealand.
  • Probability of finishing the ISDE
  • Fits into the overall class structure to comply with rules.

Based on this criteria, and current form, the selectors are please to name the following riders, in alphabetical order, to the NZ Senior Trophy Team:

PROVISIONAL NZ SENIOR TROPHY TEAM

  • Kevin Archer, Suzuki, from Te Awamutu.
  • Chris Birch, KTM, Waimauku
  • Josh Coppins, Honda, Motueka.
  • Darryl King, Yamaha, Hamilton
  • Shane King, Honda, New Plymouth
  • Paul Whibley, Honda, Pahiatua
Reserve rider will be Damien King, Yamaha, from Hamilton.

For the Junior Trophy Team the selectors were confronted with the dilemma of a wealth of talent after Heath Howlett and Adrian Smith asked to be considered for selection prior to publication of the initial squad of riders in the April edition of KIWI RIDER magazine.

Due to this dilemma the selectors have decided to name the preferred first three riders of the four man team. The fourth rider will be chosen from Jason Davis, Heath Howlett, Mitchell Nield, and Adrian Smith, once further evidence of form, commitment, and dedication to mechanical excellence has been established.

PROVISIONAL NZ JUNIOR TROPHY TEAM

  • Scott Columb, Suzuki, currently based in Italy.
  • Michael Phillips, Kawasaki, Rotorua
  • Karl Power, Husaberg, Hamilton.
Former World MX 1 champion, Ben Townley, Taupo, had been named on the initial NZ Junior Trophy squad, however, with the USA based Kawasaki rider, suffering injury and unable to compete in the ISDE his place will be taken by the fourth selected Junior Team rider.