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New Zealand's six-man No.1 team to contest November's “Olympic Games of motorcycling” has a distinctly motocross flavour and they fancy their chances of bringing home gold.
The annual International Six Days Enduro (ISDE) kicks off near Taupo on November 14 with Taranaki-born and bred brothers Darryll and Shayne King spearheading the Kiwi campaign.
They will be joined in New Zealand's elite six-rider “Trophy Team” by fellow motocross international Scott Columb (Queenstown) and by enduro guns Kevin Archer (Te Awamutu), Chris Birch (Waimauku) and Paul Whibley (Pahiatua).
Whibley will return from racing in the United States -- he's currently fifth in the national series there -- especially for the ISDE.
The Trophy Team is New Zealand's No.1 squad to tackle the big event in the Kinleith Forest, between Taupo and Tokoroa.
The No.2 squad, the four-man Junior Trophy Team, comprises Jason Davis (Whangamata), Karl Power (Hamilton), Adrian Smith (Thames) and Michael Phillips (Rotorua).
In addition, New Zealand has more than 28 separate three-rider Club Teams entered.
In all, 94 New Zealand riders are entered, not surprisingly the largest contingent of any of the 29 countries represented at the Taupo event. It is the first time the ISDE has been staged in New Zealand and therefore offers the Kiwi elite their best opportunity to win gold because they may be more familiar with the typical New Zealand pine forest course and huge support is expected from the Kiwi public.
The sport of enduro racing can be compared to rally car racing, with riders setting off in groups of three, one minute apart, over marked courses that include anything nasty that nature can throw up -- logs, tree roots, rocks, mud, creek beds, gorse-strewn hills and ravines, rolling grass farmland, sandhills and swamp -- most of which the riders have no chance to preview before they come across it.
And they're on their own, with no outside assistance allowed. Flat tyre? Broken engine? Bent handlebars? Lost? Run out of fuel? Gashed arm? Riders must deal with these emergencies and reach the next check-point, or they're out.
This year's ISDE involves more than 600 of the world's best dirt bike racers. A strong representation is due from Europe and Australia with riders competing in national teams (Trophy Teams) and also competing as individuals for personal glory.
The 78th ISDE was held in Brazil in 2003 and was won by Belgian motocross legend Stefan Everts, the 79th was held in Poland in 2004 and was won by New Zealand's Stefan Merriman and the 80th was held in Slovakia in 2005 and won by British rider David Knight.
Although originally from Tauranga, Merriman has raced under an Australian licence for a number of years and he will again be a part of Australia's Trophy Team.
Merriman, a four-time former world enduro champion (2000, 2001, 2003 and 2004) and defending world enduro champion Samuli Aro (Finland) will go head-to-head at the Taupo event, along with former 500cc motocross world champion Joel Smets (Belgium).
It sounds like, for at least one week in November, New Zealand is going to be crawling with motorcycle world champions past and present, and the Kiwi team is determined it will be among the medals.
Geoff Osborne photos of NZ Enduro riders in action;
Schedule of the 2006 ISDE;
29 Nations, 6 days, 600 riders - 1 winner.
Pre-event
9 November All 600 + motorcycles impounded in Parc Ferme until Day One.
12 November Opening Ceremony, 1.00pm. Olympic-style with riders representing 29 countries parading in uniform along Horomatangi Street, in Taupo.
The 2006 ISDE runs from Tuesday, November 14, until Sunday, November 19.
14 – 18 November Days One to Five, Special stages held in and around Kinleith Forest.
19 November Day Six, Motocross Special Stage at Digger McEwen Park, Taupo.
19 November Awards ceremony and dinner, Taupo Events Centre, from 7.30pm.
For further information, rider interviews or high resolution photographs contact:
2006 ISDE Media Manager Terry Stevenson on 021 999-160
Email terry@isde06.com or visit www.isde06.com
