ISDE UPDATE -NO MEDALS

[firstturn]

For those of use that keep up with the 6 Days:

OFF-ROAD - FIM Denies ISDE Riders Medals
By Kit Palmer
FIM Says "No Medals" 9/28/2004  

It turns out that the riders who did not participate in the final motocross test at the recently concluded International Six Days Enduro in Poland have been denied their medals. The AMA, however, has announced that it has filed a formal appeal with the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM), protesting the denial of finisher's medals to 23 members of Team USA.

According to a release from the AMA, the American riders - who are among the many Class II and Class III competitors, nearly two-thirds of all ISDE participants, also denied medals - chose not to ride the motocross course on the event's final day because the track's dusty conditions were judged by riders and team officials to be unsafe.

Requests from Team USA and others to cancel the motocross event for safety reasons were denied. Competitors first were informed that failing to ride the final moto would carry a penalty of one minute for each lap not ridden; later, it was announced that medals would not be awarded to riders who did not finish the course.

"These talented riders traveled thousands of miles and spent their own money to compete for personal and team pride," said AMA President Robert Rasor. "We're simply asking that our riders be awarded the medals that they earned."

 
What a waste of time after people had already lost their lives earlier in the week.  Just my take.




Ron Carbaugh

[Mick Milakovic]

The Motocross Des Nations has lost a lot of it's lustre in recent years.  I wonder if the ISDE will run the same course?  Conflict is often the cause for change, but it can also be the influence for ruin.

[firstturn]

Mick,
  Interesting comment!  I personally feel that the Moto Des Nations would have died in the 80's if it had not been for Roger DeCoster selling the importance to American Honda.  It was really a great thing in those days(early 80's). I feel that possible the lack of interest left when Roger separated from Honda(the first time) with all the clout that Honda has in World Racing.  Just my take.

Ron Carbaugh

[OhioTed]

Politics rears its ugly head once again.  What ever happened to professionalism, respect, and honor?  TED

[tomale]

It left when it became about the money. I am not a bubba fan exactly but I have got to say that I admire him for staying with Kawasaki all these years.(not that I am a kawasaki fan eithr) I am sure that other companies have tried to lure him away with big contracts but he has stayed true.

Thom Green,Still crazy after all these years!
76' 250 MC5 (orginal owner)
78' 400 MC5

[firstturn]

Speaking of class look at Jeff Ward.  All his years with Kawasaki and he was even helped by Kawasaki when he went Indy Racing which to me, signaled how they honored him for his past dedication, charater and integrity.[^]

Ron Carbaugh

[Mick Milakovic]

The Motocross Des Nations has lost a lot of it's lustre in recent years.  I wonder if the ISDE will run the same course?  Conflict is often the cause for change, but it can also be the influence for ruin.

[firstturn]

Mick,
  Interesting comment!  I personally feel that the Moto Des Nations would have died in the 80's if it had not been for Roger DeCoster selling the importance to American Honda.  It was really a great thing in those days(early 80's). I feel that possible the lack of interest left when Roger separated from Honda(the first time) with all the clout that Honda has in World Racing.  Just my take.

Ron Carbaugh

[OhioTed]

Politics rears its ugly head once again.  What ever happened to professionalism, respect, and honor?  TED

[tomale]

It left when it became about the money. I am not a bubba fan exactly but I have got to say that I admire him for staying with Kawasaki all these years.(not that I am a kawasaki fan eithr) I am sure that other companies have tried to lure him away with big contracts but he has stayed true.

Thom Green,Still crazy after all these years!
76' 250 MC5 (orginal owner)
78' 400 MC5

[firstturn]

Speaking of class look at Jeff Ward.  All his years with Kawasaki and he was even helped by Kawasaki when he went Indy Racing which to me, signaled how they honored him for his past dedication, charater and integrity.[^]

Ron Carbaugh

[tomale]

Yep class act... did not know Kawasaki helped him when he did the Indy car thing. Any idea what he is doing now? I really do not follow car racing. I like it... sort of, I would just rather watch bike racing especially Motocross but I even like speedway and roadracing. Not much of a following for speedway in this country. Hmmm like a few other types of off road compititon. Hmm must be the money thing again.

Thom Green,Still crazy after all these years!
76' 250 MC5 (orginal owner)
78' 400 MC5

[firstturn]

Thom,
  Jeff is now racing SuperMoto and still dabbles in car racing.  This guy seems to get faster the older he gets.  Here is a update on I think his last win.
*********************************************************************

Jeff Ward won today's second round of the AMA Supermoto Championship in Copper Mountain, Colorado, a race run under beautiful skies for the second day in a row. The day included a full unique set of heat races, semis and Superpole competition, so the guys who didn't make the main on Saturday got a second shot at it today.

In the Supermoto class it was Alexandre Thiebault of France stealing the holeshot and running at the front for the first three laps before getting passed by Doug Henry on the Troy Lee Designs Honda. Ward held down third early in the race.

After winning on Saturday, Henry again looked to be on his way to the double win, but it wasn't to be as he lost his clutch on the 12th lap. This handed the lead to Thiebault, who had Ward working hard to get past. Ward got the lead a few laps later over the metal table-top jump, and never looked back to take a commanding win.

Jurgen Kunzel got off to a poor start and was well down in seventh position. He eventually worked his way to the front, but wasn't able to get around Thiebault and endd up finishing third. Kurt Nicoll battled at the front all race long and kept Kunzel in sight securing fourth at the finish. Steve Drew rode his American Supercamps White Brothers Honda to fifth after running up front early in the race. Sixth was occupied by Frenchman David Baffeleuf, with Mark Burkhart coming from the second to last row to grab seventh. Ben Carlson came from the last row to grab eighth after missing the main on Saturday. In ninth was Gary Trachy, who had crashed out on Saturday, with Mike Metzger rounding out the top 10.

In the Unlimited Supermoto final it was once again Kunzel stealing the show. Kunzel got the holeshot and led wire to wire. Red Bull KTM's Kurt Nicoll hounded Kunzel all race long, putting tons of pressure on his teammate and finishing just under a second behind. Micky Dymond finished third for the second day in a row, but wasn't able to run the pace of the leaders after getting a poor start. Darryl Atkins ran a strong fourth, with Ben Carlson finishing fifth.




Ron Carbaugh

[t20sl]

I may get shouted down for this but as an experienced enduro rider I always had the right to stop racing an event if it got to nasty, dusty or dangerous.  With that said, I never felt I had the right to demand a trophy if I did quit.  I don't know the situation, but some things are out of the control of the organizers such as trail, weather conditions.  As the Six-Days are organized the final MX is part of the event.  Many medals were lost in the final Mx under the old system.  And I am sure under the current system many have been earned back.  Just my take.  Ted

[firstturn]

Ted,
  I think your view point is valid, but I don't think in this situation you (or I) have all the facts. I also feel that this particular event had gotten out of hand due to the conditions.  Some people never make that important link between Common Sense and the throttle which is understandable to a degree for any racer.
  I will hold back any further comments until I talk with someone who was actually there.  About your comment on quiting or better yet choosing the smarter side of withdrawing from an event due to safety. I have seen finishing sections thrown out (by the rules) and people, who for the same reasons ended up finishing well, even though they had withdrawn.
  Finally I don't think that anyone is demanding anything that they hadn't already earned under the rules in place.  Rules people that I know are Doug, Dane and Dwight.  One of them should be able to shed more light on the rules are as far as riding a final event..........[?]

Ron Carbaugh