Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/125827
Page 7 September 25,1973 a the ISDT tradition . . . ~. The world's. toughest motorcycle competition comes to America By Too Rafferty Since its inception 60 years ago, the International Six Days Trial has developed as the international showdown of competitive \ motorcycling. The intensely nationalistic flavor of the event was altered in 1970, when the FIM abolished the rule that Trophy Teams had to ride machines made in their own c oun try. Th is accounts for the conspicuous absence of an American Trophy Team until recent years. The Silver Vase trophy, originated in 1924, was introduced specifically for countries that did not produce their Own bikes. Both of the original trophies disappeared in Germany during World War II, and were later replaced with the silver antique cups now in use. Czechoslovakia, who has won the top award for the past three years, entered their first Trophy Team in 1932. A sidecar entry was required then, and the Jawa mounted Czechs did well until the fifth day when the hack lost a wheel. S till, they' managed to finish third hehind the then invincible British and the hosting Italians. Since 1947 Czechoslovakia has won the International Trophy ten times and the Silver Vase thirteen times. West Germany has captured four victories in the same period, Great Britain has won five times and six Trophies have gone to the East Germans. The last British victory came in 1953. The event was held in Czechoslovakia, and the host country was struck w;th bad luck when one of the Trophy Team machines failed to start within the prescribed time 011 the second day. It was the only penalty point they received. Of the 50 Czech entries this year, 25 won Gold Medals, including one woman rider, Lida Rutkova-Ahrahamova. West Germany and Czechoslovakia swapped' the title back and forth for most of the next nin.e years, in terrupted only in 1960 when Austria won the top award on her home ground. The reign of East G~any began in 1963 when the bulletproof MZ's carried their Trophy Team to the first of five consecutive victories. So except for the Austrian win, Czechoslovakia and the two Germanies have dominated the ISDT for the past fifteen years. In 1970, when the contest was opened to all FIM member countries, the International .Trophy became the World Trophy and the ISDT was'held in Spain for the first time in its history. This was also the first year that special acceleration and motocross tests were included in the route each day. The Czechs, more than a little moody at being whipped by the Germans for seven years, went to EI Escorial determined to put their country back on top. . It· came down to. a two-way battle between the Czechs and the West Germans, and on the sixth day Czech Trophy Team rider Jaroslav Briza was struck with carburetor trouble only a few miles from the finish line. He made the repairs quickly, but the machine then refused to fire up. Valuable minutes were lost as he struggled to bring the 360 Jawa to life. Finally it started and Briza set out to make up the time he'd lost, covering the last few miles riding flat out at the very edge of control. He reached the last check with only 20 seconds remaining on this three minute grace period. The Czechs went on to defeat the Germans in the final road race and win the World Trophy. They .repeated the feat in 1971 at the Isle of Man and in 1972 in their own country, winning the Silver Vase all three years as well. The American Trophy Team (Penton) finished fourth in 1971, and was holding the same position in the much more difficult 1972 Trial when a disastrous final day' dropped them to sixth. They were awarded the Watling Trophy, the prize given the team showing the· most improvement in ISDT competition. This Year As this issue went to press, the 48th ISDT got underway in Dalton, Massachussetts, held for the first time in America. Again it shapes up as a close struggle between the Czechs and Germans on their all but hand made Jawas, MZ's and Zundapps. The American Trophy Team's Penton/KTM's are virtually stock machines by comparison. The average age on the top European teams is about 35, compared to 22 for the U.S. riders. The . traditional home ground advantage is tempered by the fact that the Massachussetts terrain is in many respects quite similar to that found in Germany and. Czechoslovakia. On the other hand, despite their youth and relative inexperience, the American team riders have all been in ISDT competition. They can all ride very fast under even the worst conditions, and they can all change a tire in under five minutes. They do not ratde un~r pressure. They have the will, the discipline and the ability' to win the World Trophy. The Six Days' drama is now unfolding in New England. We welcome all the riders and crews from around the world, and wish them all the best of luck. • .,.., ... , ,,., 1eu ._. _v_ .- ....... ............ _- ._ .- "- c.r...... G. . . . .~lt. . ."'"_ . G.-otMe. F r _ ...,........ ...... . tUS .... ~Mcww.' nz.. CMudl'-..._ ••. . . - 0 _ ariuhl ....... G..- ........ ,t33 11M a..- ....... Ital, 1131 Opening ceremonies in Czechoslovakia, 1972. . . .~ M ..._ . Ital, a ==------n..,. . - ........ drtndod Wall8. ~ a~ 0-.., _ "-a.i"'h_. ... a_, n..... .......... ,,,. , .........,Mh, • . . - , ....... 'U'I L'-4rl..-.cl W-ea.. O..-.ri.... 0 ......................... , •• L.......I G"!," W-ea•• ,. G_ ......,. 0_ ..... a.-, """"'""tty ...... IM Dick Burleson heads out on the first , .. ~ . . .I., Czechs crowded the MX course to _ 0 ......" 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