Friday September 27, 2013 at 9:53am
The FIM International Six Days Enduro (ISDE) will celebrate its centennial year in style later this month when the 2013 event takes place in Olbia, Sardinia from 30th September 30 to 5th October. Returning to Italy for the first time since 1997, the eighty-eighth edition of the FIM’s longest running off-road motorcycle race will make its home in Sardinia – the second largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Known for its crystal clear waters and picturesque landscape, Sardinia will deliver the perfect location to mark the one-hundredth anniversary of this iconic event.
Growing from strength to strength, the 2013 ISDE will see six hundred and twenty seven riders from thirty-six different nations arrive in Sardinia to compete. Transforming Olbia into a city of World enduro, the port area of the city is set to become a hive of activity as the World’s best riders battle for the most coveted prizes in enduro sport.
Set out across the Gallura region, the competitors in this year’s ISDE will face six long, demanding, and varied days of racing. Leaving the calm of the race paddock situated in Olbia’s port area each morning, riders will quickly venture into the surrounding mountains. Utilising numerous trails from the FIM Rally of Sardegna, competitors will cover approximately two hundred and thirty kilometres each day for the first five days of the event. Bringing the racing to a close, the ISDE’s traditional sixth day motocross will take place at the ‘Sergio Bruschi’ cross park in Tempio on Saturday 5th October.
Dominating the event in Germany in 2012, France arrive in Sardinia as defending champions of all three classes – FIM World Trophy, FIM Junior World Trophy and FIM Women’s World Trophy. Fielding no less than three FIM Enduro World Champions in their World Trophy team, France are billed as favourites to win again. Winning all six days of competition in 2012, France will be hoping to repeat that performance in Olbia. However, host nation Italy will fight hard to stop them. Eager to draw on the invaluable support from their home crowd, and armed with the newly crowned FIM Enduro 2 World Champion Alex Salvini - Honda, the Italian’s would like nothing better than to mark the centennial anniversary of the ISDE with a home win. But with Spain, USA, Australia, Great Britain and Sweden all featuring strong line-ups, the race for victory in this year’s FIM World Trophy competition is set to be a close affair.
Like their senior counterparts, the French Junior World Trophy team has its sights set on successfully defending the junior ISDE crown. Led by the 2012 FIM Enduro Junior World champion Mathias Bellino – Husaberg, the French quartet should face stiff opposition from Great Britain, USA, Australia and of course Italy. With local knowledge to their advantage, the Italian’s have the potential to outclass their French rivals. But with Great Britain’s team including the 2013 FIM Enduro Youth Cup champion Jamie McCanney – Husaberg and 2013 FIM SuperEnduro Junior World champion Danny McCanney – Gas Gas, Britain are not to be counted out.
In the Women’s World Trophy team competition France start as defending champions and will hope to see off challenges from Australia, Sweden, USA, Canada and Italy in order to secure their sixth consecutive ISDE title.
The eighty-eighth edition of the ISDE takes place in Sardinia from 30th September to 5th October.