Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

OFF-ROAD AMA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP REUABIUTY ENDURO SERIES By Steve Berkner IDAHO CITY, ro, MAY 31-jUNE 1 orks Enduro Rider's Chris Smith, on his TM 125, scored " the overall win at the Moose Off-Road-sponsored Idaho City ISDE Qualifier, a lot of which had to do with his winning four of the twoday qualifier's eight special tests. Smith emerged from day one's competition with a 15-second lead over his nearest competitor, then extended that margin to nearly a minute following the final day of competition. This was Smith's second overall win in the qualifier series, his first coming in New Waverly, Texas, two rounds earlier. His nearest competitor was Kawasaki rider Brian Brown, who edged out Italian Luca Trussardi. Fourth overall went to desertracing ace Destry Abbott, followed by KTM rider Jason Raines, who rounded out the top five. "It was a good weekend for me," an elated Smith said follOWing the event, which was the next-to-Iast round of the AMA National Championship Reliability Enduro Series. "Nothing really went wrong. I didn't even fall. I've been so . motivated this year, trying to prove my spot on this year's Six Days Trophy Team, that a win like this helps with my confidence." Smith, who was also a member of last year's third-place-finishing team ,/J Round 5: Idaho City Qualifier (which was one of the top finishes ever for a U.S. ISDE effort), said, "Last year people were so up on our third-place finish in Finland that, this year, I just wanted to prove my place on this year's team." (Smith's ISDE teammates this year will again be Ty Davis, Randy Hawkins, Rodney Smith, Steve Hatch and Scott Summers, none of whom competed at this event.) Smith did just what he wanted to do by dominating the competition aboard his Italian-bred TM 125, while the remaining top-10 finishers competed in the Heavyweight Two-Stroke class (175cc to Open) and Lightweight FourStroke (up to 4OOcc) class. "The bike just wouldn't give up," Smith said. "I knew I was down on power to the 250s, especially with all the uphills. Sometimes, it seemed like all I was doing was downshifting, trying to keep my momentum up." Finishing 54 points behind Smith was local rider Brian Brown. "I think I did all 1 could do to finish as high as I did," the 19-year-old Nampa, Idaho, resident said. "Chris is such a good rider that finishing second behind him (in a National) is a pretty big accomplishment for me." Brown was able to beat Smith in two of the four tests where Smith finished second. The Kawasaki Team Green rider said, "The tests were all 'fairly close to one another, and I started getting a little Chris Smith recorded his second win of the yearat the Idaho City ISOE Qualifier In Idaho. tired at the end - especially on day two on the last test." That test made the real difference for Smith, where he picked up 29 seconds on Brown. "It was the longest test (of the qualifier) and right up until then, it was still a close battle," Smith said. "It was something like 8 miles long and took more than 25 minutes to run. The test was, like, right out of an enduro. It was allnew trail and very challenging. It took 100 percent concentration just to stay focused." Boise Ridge Riders president and event spokesperson Peter Reynolds said, "As our club name states, we use a lot of mountain ridges for our trails. We have a deal with the U.S. Forest Service that allows us to maintain about 400 miles of trail. Each year, we add and clear a few new trails, and eventually we hope to have a 5OD-mile, trail system. "This year's event consisted of a single 95-mile loop run each day out of Idaho City. Day one had three 4-milelOng terrain tests and a 1.7-mile-long grass track run at the end of the day. Day two was run in reverse (of day one), with the grass track scheduled at the beginning of the day. Two 4-milelong terrain tests were used, along with the last 7-and-a half-mile-Iong terrain tests." Kenly Henrichs, event clerk of the course, explained, "We put a lot of effort into our events. Each year, we clear and maintain the already existing trails, and add a few new ones to help make the (trail) system more ecologically friendly. For example, where an existing mining trail may go right up a steep ridge, we'll cut new trail that weaves back and forth to keep erosion to a minimum. "This year, we were able to add 35 miles of new trail to our system, and we incorporated most of that into this year's event. Seven and a half miles of that was the last test on day two. It was all brand-new trail that ran down a ridge that we call French Kiss. It weaved its way back and forth through a series of consecutive switchbacks that were extremely tight. As a club, we recognize that this is a reliability enduro for qualifying for Six Days, and we want the (Letter-of-Intent) riders to be tested." Smith spoke of that philosophy: "Of all the qualifiers, this one is the most like a Six Days. You can tell that the club does so much of their planning around that. The trail pace is just fast enough to keep you on your toes before they give you a couple-minute break at a check, then its right back at it. They also put a lot of thought into the tests. There they really challenge your skills." Third-place overall finisher and sixtime ISDE gold-medal winner Luca Trussardi agreed. Speaking through an interpreter, the 28-year-old Italian said, "This event here in Idaho was very good for an enduro. The time schedules were perfect, and the grass track was excellent. The terrain tests were very tight, eSpecialliby our standards, but it was a very good event." Trussardi's grass-track times were extremely competitive. The former ISDE Junior and World Trophy Team Champion finished just two seconds off of Smith's first grass-track time on day one, and won the same, test, edging Smith by one second, on day two. Trussardi piloted an IMS-prepped XR400 in the Lightweight Four-Stroke class, and 'finished first in class. "The (lightweight) four-stroke is a very good bike for me here," Trussardi said. "I walked the grass track many times before the event, and that paid off." Senior class winner Drew Smith, riding a Honda, also joined in praising the event. "This club does such a wonderful job," Smith said. "They really know how to put on a challenging ride. Some of the trails are so steep here that one little mistake could send you down a ravine. It kept you on your toes." Heavyweight Four-Stroke class winner Dan Harte, who piloted a KTM, said, "The extra weight of a big four-stroke makes for a real challenge here, especially with all of the steep uphills with the quick turns and switchbacks. My hat gOj$ off to Chris for his overall win. To accomplish that on a 125 definitely puts him at the top of his game." ... , ISDE Idaho City Two-Day Qual~ Idaho City, Idaho Results: May 31..June 1, 1997 (Round 5 of 6) O/A: 1. Chris Smith (TM) 5139; 2. Brian Brown (Kaw) 5193; 3. Luca Trussardi (Han) 5252; 4. Destry Abbott (KTM) 5280; S. Jason Raines (KTM) 5341; 6. Patrick Garrahan (](TM) 5345; 7. Steve Silvestri 5376; 8. Erik Kholer 5415; 9. Eric Mashbir 5415; 10. Eric Ducray 5423 Upcoming Round: Round 6 (final)- Yamhill, Oregon, June 21-22

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