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All content © Bob MuIIins |
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BRITISH TEAM WIN SILVER VASE IN ITDE 2015. Portoferrario, on the Isle of Elba resounded to the sound of air cooled two strokes on full song just the same as in 1981 when the ISDE was held on the island. This time it was the 2015 International Three Day Enduro for machines of 1981 and for twinshocks up to 1986 with a class for Gentlemen Riders who did not have competition licences and just wanted to ride their classic bikes in the glorious countryside. The paddock was on the quayside and was soon full of assorted vans and motorhomes from many European countries. Soon there were lots of well prepared exotic machines representing marques which have long since stopped production, Ancilotti MZ, Moto Aspes, SWM to name a few. There were lots of riders using the same machine that they had ridden all those years ago including Allesandro Gritti on the Kramer and Gualitera Brissoni on the Fantic and one guy even had his original bib. Soon the secretariat was full of competitors all talking in many languages as they greeted on friends and waited to sign on and get the number plates for the machines before riding alongside the harbour to the technical inspection. Riders queued in the sunshine to get the parts marked, have an official photo taken before pushing their machine through the archway in the old town wall, across the piazza to parc ferme. Great Britain was represented by the Husqvarna team of Andy Elliot, Rob Poulton and Nigel Heath, Roger Hammond (even though he now lives in France) on his Cagiva and Jim Jones on a SWM 175 belonging to Stephen Baker from Sydney who was riding a SWM250. The team from Japan had Jenny Hodgkins as their manager, there was also one rider from the USA.
Amongst the entry were many of the well known supporters of enduro riders and teams who were showing that they too could race. Gentlemen Riders were happy that they only had to complete one lap and Roger was getting into the swing of things and beginning to enjoy the event especially as the marking had been improved so he missed the severe downhill. Jim made it as far as the cross test when the discomfort from the previous days fall became too much and on medical advice he rode back to the paddock. The Husky boys had been in a close fight in the Silver Vase competition with a team from France and after the two laps it was close. One of the French riders had a bad crash which spoiled their chances but the Dutch, German and Italian teams were closing in.
The event had been well organised, old friendships renewed and new ones made and here's to the next revival. What chance we can have one in Wales in 2018 to celebrate the last time the ISDE was held in Great Britain? Report Dot jones
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Friday dawned bright and sunny and the late comers and those whose bikes
had needed some more loving attention were soon ready for the 1.30 start.
Only one lap today which included a traditional enduro test, a motocross
test and an acceleration test on the dual carriageway in the town centre.
There were some nasty surprises along the route, climbs that gave the riders
spectacular views of the bays filled with yachts bobbing on the blue waters
of the med. Then there was the fierce rocky downhill which would prove the
limitations of the old bikes and elderly riders. A bypass had been set up
for the Gentlemen riders but due to the inadequate marking many missed the
turn off, Roger and Jim included. Jim had a few scary moments and a big
crash breaking levers and bruising his pride and his body. At the end of the
day the paddock was busy with riders searching for those elusive spares
which changed hands for the promise of vast amounts of beer. The hard rocky
ground had taken its toll but after a great dinner at the event HQ everyone
seemed fresh and ready for the three laps on Saturday. Once again the sky
was blue, the sun was shining and watching riders like Brissoni and Gritti
on the cross test was pure pleasure.
As the sun was setting over the bay everyone gathered on the quayside for
the parade of riders and each team stood on the start ramp while their
National Anthem rang out to the cheers of the local crowd. Once again the
sky was blue on Sunday morning and riders left the town for just one lap of
the course and it was evident from the way some left the start of the
special that the results were going to be close. Gritti who won the 1981
event was seen on the road with a flat rear tyre. Brissoni was setting a
very fast time on the test, it was all getting a bit getting serious. Team
HVA were going well and seemed pleased as they finished the last test but
would have to wait to later in the day for the results. Tired bodies riding
battered machines arrived at the finish and waited in the local bars for the
results. It would be success for the Brits as Andy Elliot won his class with
Rob Poulton in second place the HVA team won the Silver Vase with France
second, Italy third and Germany fourth. Stephen Baker from Oz won a
beautiful Airoh helmet though he is not sure why-probably for his cheerful
smile and having traveled the furthest. Most of the classes were won by the
Italians but there were no results published when I left the paddock so
please check out the web site at ITDE2015.com for all the details.