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/128175
Pearson (Kawasaki 250 two-stroke), Ron Schmelzle (Yamaha 250 twostroke), Greg Gillian (KTM 250 fourstroke), Tim Taber (KTM 250 twostroke) and Brian Sperle (KTM 250 two-stroke), finished out the week a disappointing 16th. The team started off okay, in 11 th place, and was hoping to climb up after fairing quite well during a rainy and muddy day three, but afterward, it was discovered that two of the riders had been excluded by technical infractions. Sperle was accused of filling his bike with fuel with the engine still running, and Gillian was accused of entering a check in the wrong direction. Sperle flat-out denied his allegation, and Gillian said he never saw the arrows (which were blocked by parked cars) directing him to turn into the check. When he realized that he had overshot the turn, he quickly bee-lined it to the check, entering in the wrong direction. The U.S. team filed a protest, and Gillian was re-instated but given a five-minute penalty, while Sperle's protest was plainly denied. Gillian's five-minute penalty ended up wiping out any chance the team had of making its goal of finishing in the top 10. And then, things got worse for the team when Gillian's bike seized on day five. At the finish, the team had just three riders still running, as Taber went out on day four with a broken piston. One of those riders was Hoess, who earned this year's honor of being America's top rider at the ISDE. He finished 22nd in the 125cc class, and his evaluation points were the lowest of all of the 40 American riders who started in the Czech Republic. He was also the only American to earn a gold medal. "It was a tough Six Days," Hoess said. "It definitely was not a good one to be on a 125; it was a big-bike Six Days. There were a lot of hills and a lot of fast sections, and I was worrying about seizing it up a lot of the times. But I had fun." In the Junior World division, for riders 23 years of age and under, the U.S. team didn't fair much better. The team was left with two men standing when all was said and done Jonathan Seehorn and Morgan Crawford. The team's other two riders, Wallace Palmer and William Radecky, were knocked out by mechanical problems. Radecky went out on day one with a seized motor, while Palmer got to day four before his rear brake disintegrated. The team officially finished 12th out of 15. France ended up winning the Junior World trophy, ahead of Portugal, Finland, Germany and the Czech Repbulic. Overall, this year's ISDE went fairly well, though many riders and teams were annoyed by citationhappy police (who were out in huge force) and organizers that refused to loosen the time schedule despite the pleas of the team's managers. The As usual, the American team had its problems, but veteran Fred Hoess, on a 125, was the top USA rider. fast schedules forced the competitors to speed on the city streets in order to make many of the checks on time throughout the week. The police, who seemed to be hiding around every corner, handed out tickets and/or warnings to hundreds of riders. In fact, it was reported on a local television news station that over 600 citations had been handed during the first four days of competition. "It's really not the police's fault," said the AMA's Hugh Fleming. "They're just doing their job, but the organizers are forcing the riders to break the law by maintaining the fast schedule. " Check out next week's issue for a more in-depth look at this year's One of the few non-Finnish class winners was Frenchman David Fretigne, who topped the 250cc Four-Stroke division. ISDE, and more on some of the trials and tribulations of the U.S. ISDE team. eN Jablanec: nad NiSllll Sparts Stadium Jablanec: nad Nisus, Czech Repu lie Results: September Z4-Z9, ZOOZ WORLD TROPHY: 1. Finland; 2. Sweden: 3. Frzmce: 4. Great Britain; 5. Italy: 6. Slovakia; 7. Poland; 8. Belgium: 9. Netherlands; 10 Spain; 11. Norway; 12. Austrelie; 13. Czech Republic; 14. Hungary; 15. Bruil; 16. USA; 17. Latvia: 18. Germany; 19. Mexico; 20. Canada. JUNIOR WORLD TROPHY: I. Fr.nee: 2. Portugal; 3. Finland; 4. Germany; 5. Czech Republic; 6. Sweden; 7. Netherlands; 8. Itely; 9. Spain; 10. Great Britain; II. Poland; 12. USA; 13. Austrllilill; 14. Venezuelll; 15. Belgium. BRIEFLY. •• Early in the week. the organizers of next year's ISDE held the traditional pre-Six Days party at Jablonec nad Nisou (but is was more of a big press conference than a party). Next year's ISDE will be heid in the state of Fortaleza, Brazil. November 3-B. The 2003 Six Days will be organized by Franco Acerbis. the founder of the plastic giant Acerbis. Franco Acerbis has produced such events as the Incas Rally and the Nevada Rally. The Brazil ISDE will be held ,n November. and according to Acerbis. will consist of three main riding eiements: beaches. sand (the desert kind). and mountains. The weather in Brazil will also be a big element. as average temperature in Brazil that time of year is in the 90s. which is significantly warmer than here in the mountains of the Czech Republic. (Sounds like a good opportunity for the U.S. to send over our top hare and hound racers.l This will be the first time that the ISDE will be held in that country. and only the third time in either North or South America (the other two were in the U.S.l. There are a few big names that are synonymous with the Six Days that were absent this year. and one such rider was Italian Giovanni Sala. The veteran Six Days nder has pretty much retired from Six Days competition. though he is far from done with raCing. Sala is currently contracted by KTM to compete in rallies. though he still competes in selected World Enduro rounds to keep fit for his rally endeavors. Another big name of the Six Days. Stephane Peterhansel. was nowhere to be seen. After winning the 250cc Four-Stroke class in the World Enduro Championships last year. Peterhansel sat out last year's Six Days in Spain after having knee surgery. Peterhansel has since devoted his time entirely to rally racing - often in trucks. A few top riders of this year's World Enduro Championships were also miSSing In action at this year's ISDE. One of those riders was Spain's Miki Arpa. who rides a Vor. He was supposed to represent Spain's World Trophy team. but Vor was unable to financially support Arpa in this year's Six Days. Vor. however. was able to back three other pretty good riders: Flnland's Mika Ahola. Siovakia's Jaroslav Katrinak. and the Czech Republic's Roman Michalik. Another big name of the World Enduro Championships was missing· Peter Bergvall of the Italian UFOlYamaha squad. Bergvall. a Swede, reportedly had a dispute with the Swedish federation and. as a result. sat out this year's ISDE. And there was. of course. the Australian Shane Watts. who did not ride. Walts, who one time overalled the ISDE on a 125. is stili laid up with a bum wrist. Former ISDE overall winner Kari Tlainen competed on the Finnish team but not on its Trophy team. Tiainen. who is still not l00-percent fit after badly injuring his arm at the Paris-Dakar Rally this year. gave up his spot on Finland's Trophy team to the younger Jani Leaksonen. Despite the injury. Tiainen rode well and finished fifth in the 500cc Four-Stroke class on a KTM. In Europe, iI's not uncommon for GP motocrossers to participate in the ISDE. as they are eager to prove their versatility. Such riders as former World Champions Joel Smets and Heinz Kinigadner have competed in past ISDEs. This year. 125cc GP racer Erik Eggens partiCipated in the Six Days and was running near the front of the pack before dropping out on the fourth day. cycle ne.,.,. OCTOBER 9,2002 21