International Six Day Enduro - Press Release

[chris]

This is bollocks.

Oh ah, 100 international journalists and photographers. How about some NZ ones? How about even the smallest amount of TV coverage here.

I'm sorry but we get a world renowned international event and there's zero support. All the "organisers" can do is wank on about their own performance. How about doing you jobs and selling this event to the wider New Zealand public.

This bugs the hell out of me, and has done since I discovered (via wikeipdia) the this event was being held in NZ. I've been in awe of the 6 Day since seeing On Any Sunday as a kid.

Is half hour/1 hour highlights coverage each night too much to ask. A bit of advertising in mainstream media. Look how successful the rally of NZ has been. All it takes is compitent organisers.

Shame that David Knight is passing on this event this year in order to defend his Las Vegas title.

/continues ranting as he crawls back under rock.

You need to tell the organisers this.

[charles23]

can we expect to see any TV coverage of the race?

I've just checked with Sky TV and they have confirmed that they won't be showing any coverage of the 6 day or the international motocross as they don't have the rights to cover it. Guess we'll have to hope for TV1 or TV3 to show something. There is however coverage of the national motocross series later this month on Sky, check your Skywatch for details.

[MikeJ]

There are some ISDE preview interviews of the NZ junior team, Stefan Merriman and Sean Clarke plus some highlights of this years World Enduro Championships Italian round on
Speedweek ...
Sky Sport 2 on 2nd Nov @ 7:30pm and Sky Sport 1 on Nov 3 @ 4:30 pm

Speedmachine...
Prime TV on 4th Nov @ 4:00pm

[SDU]

Thanks for the updates Joni will keep an eye on those programmes Mikej

[Joni]

Well its almost time for the event to take place... for those who who are interested, herewith a final list of all the riders who will be participating..

[rogson]

Joni,

I'm interested going for a look and am wondering how to get information to help determine which are the best days and best spots for spectators.

I realise the last day (Sunday) includes a MX at Taupo which obviously will be accessible to spectators, but what about accessibility and viewing spots on the other days in the forest.

The website indicates a programme with maps and route sheets will be available from the event office in Taupo from Nov 8. Will it also indicate good viewing/spectator spots and, given I'm not in Taupo, how can I get one in advance?

Any help/advice would be appreciated.

[Joni]

My suggestion would be to email the person who's email addy they provided in the first post:
terry@isde06.com
Im sure they will be able to answer any questions you may have

[Danger]

Just volunteered my time for six days of work helping out KTM riders during the six days. Looking forward to it!

[clint640]

There's a bit of a buzz growing in Taupo, heaps of vans & people covered in motorcycle related logos crusing around, dirt bikes fanging round the streets doing wheelies (apart from me ) I'm planning to go out for a look on the Friday, I'll gather some info on spectating before then & post it up.

Cheers
Clint

[chris]

We'll be there all week and I'll be there Wednesday and Thursday. Don't miss it!

[clint640]

Might catch ya for a beer on thurs night, Oscar & 4skins are coming to town so I suspect we might be up for a coupla' quiet pints.

Hey Danger, if any of the KTM's need stuff welded or made, go see Mike Connor at 17 Totara St, He's a bit of a grumpy bugger at times but he can weld anything & is a genius at fixing the unfixable. Take some Steinlager for best results.

Cheers
Clint

[Danger]

Thanks, will do.
Driving a truck down Monday, staying until the following Monday, after the party.

[Joni]

Toughest Sporting Event on the Planet

It does not get any bigger or tougher than this. The kick-off to the 81st edition of the International Six Days Enduro (ISDE) near Taupo is just days away and the 620 riders entered, from 31 countries, are bracing themselves for the ultimate test of speed, skill and endurance. The ISDE is the ‘Ironman’ of motorcycling.

New Zealanders rate highly in the world of off-road motorcycling but never before have they had the chance to strut their stuff in front of a home crowd, until now.

This year's Yamaha and Maxxis-sponsored ISDE, in the Kinleith Forest from November 14-19, is the first time it has been held in New Zealand but that does not make it any easier for the home town heroes with the ISDE one of the most physically demanding sports events on the planet.

The riders are on their own for six gruelling days. They are against the clock, against the terrain and against the cream of motorcycling talent from around the world, like five-times World Motocross champion, Joel Smets, of Belgium, and New Zealand’s own 1996 World 500cc Motocross champ, Shayne King. Not to mention four-time World Enduro champion and twice individual ISDE winner Stefan Merriman, who is a New Zealander - riding for the Australian team.

So how does one person do it all, for six days straight? “Your arms feel like jelly after a day on the bike ... and then you've still got a 15-minute work period ahead of you, to make repairs or change tyres and air filters. It can be pretty daunting,” said event organiser and former gold medal winner Sean Clarke (Tokoroa).

Riders will spend up to eight hours hard riding each day, wrestling their bikes through the bush. They are restricted to just 15 minutes at the end of each day where, unassisted, they must maintain or repair their bikes. There is an additional 10-minute allocation to complete such work as dawn breaks the next morning and time lost in the pits could be very costly.

“I think New Zealand would have to be thrilled with either of its teams finishing top-five. I'd expect Finland, Sweden and Italy to be the top nations,” said Clarke.

Never mind luck, a lot will depend on how quickly the visiting riders adapt to New Zealand conditions. The forest floor is carpeted with pine-needles but they disguise the perils of treacherous shifting sand and they lay a covering blanket over tree roots and stumps.

Dust may hang in the air for all but the first riders away each day from 7.00am, creating visibility problems that will only add to the dangers already inherent in high speed motorsport. Wet weather could bring mayhem.

Even with the home advantage, and Kiwi fans cheering them on as they weave through the pine trees north of Taupo, New Zealand's six-man Trophy Team and four-man Junior Trophy Team riders will need to be at their best to feature near the front.

New Zealand's Trophy Team comprises motocross brothers Darryll King (Hamilton) and Shayne King (New Plymouth), enduro guns Cameron Negus (Rotorua), Chris Birch (Waimauku) and Paul Whibley (Pahiatua), and new team member, Lachie Columb (Queenstown).

The No 2 squad, the four-man Junior Trophy Team, comprises Jason Davis (Whangamata), Karl Power (Hamilton), Adrian Smith (Thames) and Michael Phillips (Rotorua).

In addition, New Zealand has more than 28 separate three-rider club teams entered.

The biggest challenge facing each rider will be to make it to the Day Six start line - a special motocross stage held at Digger McEwen Park on Sunday November 19. Tickets to Day Six are available now from Ticketek, while programmes can be purchased from the free to public Parc Ferme from November 10, which is at the Taupo Motorsport Park.


Note from Joni: For the guys who are going to watch and help out, have a super time!

[Goblin]

This is HUGE!

GO Michael Phillips!!! and the rest of the NZ Teams!

Hope all the organizers, sweepers and helpers have a fantastic week!

[denill]

See that Some Arseholes Pinched This Poor Buggers Bike:

Arsehole doesn't describe the type of Pricks that they are and maybe someone can do it better??

Off to Taupo tomorrow and back on Sunday. See ya!