ISDE History and Vintage Photographs
Just ahead of the 90th edition of the International Six Days Enduro (ISDE) set for Kosice, Slovakia, September 7-12, the FIM has released an updated history of the iconic off-road motorcycle racing event.
But before we get into the ISDE history, let’s talk Team USA. The 2015 Team USA ISDE World Trophy lineup features Mike Brown, Thad Duvall, Taylor Robert and Kailub Russell, Ryan Sipes and Gary Sutherlin. Brown will serve as team captain. The U.S. Junior Trophy Team lineup includes Grant Baylor, Steward Baylor, Justin Jones and Layne Michael. Managing 2015 ISDE Team USA is Antti Kallonen, KTM North America’s off-road racing manager.
Lat year, the U.S. Junior Trophy Team won its division, which was the third time in ISDE history. As for the Team USA World Trophy, it finished second last year at Argentina ISDE, but has never won. Team USAalso finished second two others times – in 1982 and 2013.
Following is the official ISDE History, along with a vintage ISDE photo gallery of past racing events, courtesy of the FIM.
ISDE History
The FIM International Six Days’ Enduro (ISDE), formerly known as the International Six Days Trial (ISDT), is the oldest off road motorcycle event on the FIM Calendar.
The ISDT was first held in 1913 at Carlisle, England. It has occurred annually, apart from interruptions due to World War I and World War II, at various locations throughout the World.
The early events were a true test of machine, rider skill, and reliability. Held on the roads of that era, today most of the routes are truly off road. Originally titled the International Six Days Trial, in 1981 the FIM decided to update the name to International Six Days’ Enduro, the name Enduro having been devised by the Americans and popularized by many motorcycle manufacturers also greater reflected the change in the event from a trial to more akin to a rally featuring skills more associated with cross country motocross.
The event has attracted national teams from as many as 32 different countries in recent years. Over its long history the rules and conditions have changed to keep in step with the developments in the sport, but it remains a supreme test of rider and machine.
Over the six days and upwards of 1250 miles a rider must contend with strict rules about time allowances and restrictions on mechanical replacements, carrying out his or her own motorcycle repairs. The ISDE can attract entries of more than 500 riders, together with thousands of support crew and spectators. This has a major impact on tourist income for the venue in which it is based each year. For 2013, the 100th anniversary of the holding of the first ISDT, the FIM announced that there were a record number of pre-entry requests of 820 covering 35 nations from across the Globe with 600 entries being allowed to compete.
Usually referred to as the “Olympics of Motorcycling” with trophies for best six-rider national, four-rider junior national, three-rider women’s national, three-rider club national and three-rider manufacturing teams. Gold, silver and bronze medals are awarded on an individual level.
The medals are typically awarded based on percentage of finishers, or relative to the best individual performance in the event within their specific class. Individual gold medals go to participants who finish within 10 percent of their class’ top competitor’s total elapsed time, silver medals are awarded for those who finish within 25 percet, and bronze medals are awarded to any rider who finishes all six days within their time allowance.
I like the 1st pick at the top. Nice how they combined cruiser, ADV, and dual sport styling all in one general purpose bike! Nifty..:) Over specialization? ‘We don’t need no stinkin’ over specialization.’ … you go boy.
Yes! Those were some true riders back then, and these pictures do them much justice. Great stuff! We knew that should be the lead picture, also :) It says loads!