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/1547087
100th 6Days Closes One Chapter and Begins a New One in Portugal WIND IN THE P54 T he longest-running competi- tion on the FIM's extensive calendar of two-wheeled events began in 1913 in Great Britain as the International Six Days Trial (ISDT). Though not run continu- ously, it has now completed 99 editions, and this year's event will mark a historic milestone: it closes one chapter and begins a new one as it heads into its next 100 years. After 1980, the FIM changed the race's name to better re- flect the sport's technological changes, and in 1981, in Italy, it was christened the International Six Days Enduro (ISDE). Bikes be- came more specialized, reliable and faster, thanks to long-travel suspension, reed-valve induc- tion and power valves for the two-strokes that dominated the marketplace at the time. Now, another name change arrives with the 100th edition of this storied race, and to more closely align it with other FIM marquee events, it becomes the 6Days FIM Enduro of Nations. Ad- mittedly, it sounds a little clumsy until you realize that Motocross of Nations and Trial of Nations are also one-off FIM World Cham- pionship races. Like most people, we'll just call it 6Days. This will mark the fourth time Portugal has hosted it and, so far, it appears to replicate most previ- ous editions, with dry, very dusty conditions and high temperatures in the 80s. The terrain is mostly flat, in the southern part of the country, roughly 100 miles from the 2019 ISDE, and will feature plenty of sand. Defending champion Italy is one of the favorites in the FIM World Trophy competition pitting four-rider teams against each other, with France, Great Britain, Sweden and the U.S. also stand- ing good chances due to each featuring a quartet of consistent- ly quick, reliable riders. Seventeen countries sent teams. It's also hard to bet against Italy—the 2025 winner—in the Ju- nior World Trophy, with 14 coun- tries pinning their hopes on their three-rider teams of riders under 24 years old. Other teams to watch include Sweden (last year's runner-up, though this year's team is made up of newer faces), France, Spain, USA, and possibly Australia and Great Britain. With three returning faces, the U.S. promises to be hard to beat in Women's World Trophy as they go for a record-tying sixth victory, which would bring them even with last year's runner-up Australia. Former champ Great Britain threatens with a new addi- tion while five-time winner France should be a dark horse. While the Trophy teams gen- erate the most headlines, the three-man Club teams (primarily for non-professional competi- tors) make up most of the ap- proximately 500-rider field from 30 countries. The U.S. has seven Club teams in the mix. Mark Kariya These are the 31 riders comprising the U.S. AMA 6Days team: four World Trophy (WT) and three each of Junior World Trophy (JWT), Women's World Trophy (WWT) and Club teams. Expectations are high for good results in this dry, dusty area of Portugal. PHOTOS: MARK KARIYA