The SACU (Scottish Auto Cycle Union) has recently announced the team that will compete in the ISDE (International Six Days Enduro) in Sardinia, Italy from the 30th September to the 5th October 2013. This is a particularly special year as the SACU is celebrating 100 years of motorcycle racing in Scotland. There is a double celebration as the 88th ISDE marks 100 years since the motorcycling equivalent to the Olympics was first run as the ISDT in Wales in 1913. It is a great honour for the Scottish team to participate this year as there are many special events happening around the main competition to add to the occasion.
The Scottish team remains unchanged from Finland 2011 when Ricky Mair, Neil Chatham and Frazer Norrie finished with one of the best results for a Scottish team in recent years, 9th Club team. Team manager Sam Davidson is once again heading up the team following his success in 2009 and 2011, his guidance and experience brought home all the riders with medals.
The relatively young team is very experienced with multiple Scottish and British Champion Ricky Mair (26, Inverness) taking part in his third ISDE having brought home a Bronze Medal in 2009, a Silver in 2011 and he is looking to go one better in 2013. Neil Chatham (22, Gullane) won the Under 23 E1 British Enduro Sprint Championship in 2011 and brought home a Gold medal from Finland finishing as the 2nd top British club rider. Frazer Norrie (21, Aberdeen) recently finished in the top ten at the Weston Beach Race ahead of literarily hundreds of riders and he also holds British and Scottish Championship titles, in Finland he suffered a rear suspension failure but still managed to finish the six days with a medal. The difference with the ISDE in comparison with other motor events is that it is more about the man than the machine, a rider can have the money for a fancy tuned machine but if he does not have the commitment, fitness or riding skill then he will not succeed.
The ISDE covers 200kms per day over the roughest terrain imaginable and the riders must keep to a specific time table for the full six days with penalties for arriving late or early. The riders also have to maintain the motorcycles mechanically for the week with the tools they carry with them except for refuelling and the topping up of fluids. The bikes are locked in a parc ferme overnight and can only be worked upon for 10 minutes in the morning and 15 minutes in the evening. The finishing order is decided by a number of special tests timed to within a hundredth of a second, the riders complete several every day with only the top 15% gaining a Gold medal finish.
Although the SACU is celebrating 100 years the financial situation has not been healthy recently due to the bad weather and the current financial climate resulting in lower entries for off road events in Scotland. The annual fund raising event at Selkirk was cancelled due to the wet weather last year. The riders have therefore had to commit to cover the costs of competing personally if sponsorship is not forthcoming.
With just five months until the event there is very little time to raise funds as the SACU only confirmed they had an entry for the team at the beginning of the month (April). The top teams have a priority in the pecking order and the smaller teams have to wait to confirm they have been allocated a place, Scotland is one of the smaller teams.
The total cost for each rider will surpass £7000 in total including the transportation of the bikes and riders to Italy, entry fees, insurance, accommodation, fuel, tyres and parts required throughout the week and that is excluding the motorbikes. The riders are planning training days, go kart nights, an auction and a raffle to raise funds for the team.
There will be a number of faithful Scottish Enduro enthusiasts who will travel out to Italy at their own expense to support the team.
Any donation large or small will go directly to helping the team, with the enthusiasm of these exceptionally fit riders under the guidance of their experienced manager, Sam Davidson, the SACU Scotland team has an excellent opportunity to finish as one of the top Club teams in the World. There will be publicity through Trial and Motocross News, local press and if the team has a good result possibly Scottish National press coverage. There are several Facebook pages that will be updated with the rider’s progress and the Scottishenduros.co.uk website will be updated on a daily basis. All the riders have a large following on Facebook ensuring any product used by the team will be well represented.
To make a donation or to offer sponsorship please contact Charlie Mackenzie at the SACU office, 28 West Main Street, Broxburn EH52 5DW telephone 01506 858354.
http://www.fim-isde2013.com/