ISDE 2010: French start as favorites in Mexico
The ISDE (International Six Days Enduro) starts on Monday in Morelia, Mexico. A six-day enduro competition for national and club teams. In contrast to previous years, the input from the Benelux is rather limited this time. The expensive move to Central America forced the Belgian Motorcyclists' Association to merge the Trophy team and a club team. A decision that made it possible for a Belgian delegation to travel, but at the same time also significantly reduced Belgian chances. Our colleague from Moto80 and La Dernière Heure, Philippe Borguet, took on the role of team manager again. Borguet put together a hybrid team consisting of four Inters from the Belgian Championship and two gentlemen racers. The team's most important player is of course Jean-François Goblet (E2), the Liège native is also the only Belgian who took part in the EWC this year. The other Belgian riders are Wim Vanderheyden (E3), Mickaël Despontin (E3), Jean Flouhr (E3), Pierre Schmits (E1) and Adriën Vandommele (E1). You can read the story of their first week in Mexico here.
If the Belgians are present in Mexico, the same cannot be said about the Dutch. The KNMV found the situation in Mexico too dangerous and therefore decided against official participation in the ISDE early in the year. So no Orange Trophy or Junior team. The only Dutch representative is Leonard Moulijn who competes on his own in the club team competition.
Are the French following themselves?
However, we don't have to look far for the real contenders for victory in the Trophy. Our southern neighbors won the country classification in both the Greek Serres (2008) and the Portuguese Figueira da Foz (2009). Anyone who still doubts the effectiveness of the French Enduro should take a look at the final rankings of the EWC 2010. With such opulence, Frédéric Weill, the entraineur-séléctionneur fédéral of the FFM, had a real luxury problem. Even Pierre-Alexandre Renet, who in his rookie year in the Enduro immediately fell 4e became champion in the E2 class of the EWC and French, was eliminated. With world champion E1 Antoine Meo, Johnny Aubert (E1), Nicolas Deparrois (E1), Rodrig Thain (E2), Christophe Nambotin (E3) and Sébastien Guillaume (E3), the French have a particularly strong team.
Crossers in the desert
The main opposition for the French will more than likely come from Italy. In addition to Alessandro Belometti, Thomas Oldrati, Simone Albergoni and Alessandro Botturi, the Italians also use active riders Manuel Monni and Alex Salvini. The most important outsiders will probably be the Americans. The AMA mainly selected riders from the Western states, who are used to riding on similar terrain as in Mexico. The most striking name among the Americans is probably Mike Brown. Ken De Dycker's ex-teammate makes his debut in the ISDE on a KTM EXC-F 250.
The long relocation and the ominous reports from Mexico have ensured that only 12 national teams are at the start in the Trophy competition. In the Junior competition there are only 9 and in the women's teams only 5.
Photo Credit: ABC Communications
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