Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme : FIM Enduro & Cross-Country Rallies News

2012 FIM International Six Days’ Enduro

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 16:39:00 +0100

The FIM’s oldest 'off road' motorcycle event back in Germany

During the FIM Conference Meetings held in Geneva from 25-28 February 2010, the FIM Enduro and Cross-Country Rallies Commission (CER) allocated the organisation of the 87th edition of the FIM International Six Day’s Enduro (ISDE), in 2012, to the Sachsenring circuit, in the free state of Saxony, Germany. The last ISDE organised by Germany was held in 1989 in Walldürn, Baden-Württemberg.

The FIM International Six Days’ Enduro is the oldest 'off road' motorcycle event on the FIM Calendar.
The first event was held in 1913 in Carlisle, England. It has occurred annually, at various locations throughout the world, apart from interruptions due to World War I and World War II.

Originally entitled the ‘International Six Day Trial’, it has been called the ‘International Six Days’ Enduro’ since 1981. Over its long history the rules and conditions have changed to keep in step with the developments in the sport, but it remains a supreme test of rider and machine. Over the six days and upwards of 1200 km a rider must contend with strict rules about time allowances and restrictions on mechanical replacements, carrying out their own track-side repairs.

In recent years, the ISDE has attracted entries of more than 500 riders coming from as many as 32 different countries, together with thousands of support crew and spectators. This has a major impact on tourist income for the venue in which it is based each year.

Vito Ippolito, FIM President said: “The FIM is happy to see the ISDE return to Germany after 20 years of absence. We are convinced that the German Federation as well as the ADAC Sachsen will provide everybody involved with the best organisation possible for this major event.”

Torsten Johne, DMSB President added: “The International Six Days represent the pinnacle of the enduro sport. Therefore, DMSB as the umbrella organisation for all German motor racers is extremely delighted with the FIM’s decision to let Germany host this event in 2012. And we will do our very best to make sure that we will be good hosts when the planet’s enduro-rider elite makes its first appearance in Germany for more than 20 years.”

Klaus Klötzner, ADAC Sachsen concluded: “I’m proud of the fact that the German bid for the organisation of the 2012 FIM International Six Days Enduro proved to be successful. We have got outstanding tracks, here at the Erzgebirge in the region around Zschopau, that allows for contesting enduro sport at the highest level.”

Presentation of the Team HM HONDA

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 17:20:00 +0100

The whole team and staff of Moto Spa, managed by the CIRESA family were present for the presentation of Teams HM HONDA Enduro and Supermotard.

With snowfall, Franco MAYR, Team Manager from Milano presented his 4 riders for the Team HM Honda.

To begin with the 3 times World Champion, Mika AHOLA will ride in E2 class instead of E1. He will be supported by 3 Italians, as Fabio MOSSINI, ex E3-rider, will be in E1 and Oscar BALLETTI will stay in E2 class as last year.
New one, Alessio PAOLI will ride for HM Honda on Italian and European Championship.

Finally, Ivan LAZZARINI, Lorenzo LAPINI and the Croatian Victor BOLSEC will be riders of the Team HM HONDA in Supermotard with Alfredo BEVILACQUA as manager.

UAE team sets sights on Tunisia enduro podium

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 15:18:00 +0100

A three-member UAE team left for Tunisia today (March 3, 2010) under the sponsorship of the UAE Motorcycle Club (UAEMC) to participate in the second edition of the Arab Enduro Championship which gets underway on March 6.

The championship, organized under the auspices of the Tunisian Motorcycle Federation and Related Disciplines, will test the skills of Arab riders on a 200 kilometer route entirely in the Tunisian desert, unlike the Carthage Enduro last November which was held along the beachfront on a route between Raoued and Gammarth in North Tunisia.

The second edition of the championship, consisting of six rounds, will pit seasoned riders from the Arab World against each other, with participants hailing from Egypt, Bahrain, Tunisia, Kuwait, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Algeria, Morocco and the UAE.

The UAE team under the sponsorship of the UAEMC comprises of Mubarak Al Ali, Ali Al Qubaisi and Mohammed Al Balooshi.

Mubarak and his teammates called on UAEMC President Mohammed Ben Sulayem, to apprise him of preparations ahead of their departure on March 3.
Sulayem, who is also FIA Vice President and President of the ATCUAE, wished the team the very best calling upon them to do their country proud.

“I am sure you will give your best. Do your country proud by not just bringing us the laurels, but also by conducting yourself in a manner befitting Emiratis when we participate in championships away from our country,” Sulayem told the team.

Mubarak said they were prepared to take on the challenge and assured Sulayem that they were leaving for the Tunisia with an eye on the podium.

The team members thanked the UAEMC president for extending his unreserved support over the years.

Mubarak and Qubaisi thanked Sulayem for sponsoring two KTM factory prepared ready-to-race bikes of world-class standard which would be used for the first time in the Tunisian championship.

The duo tested the new bikes over several days in the deserts of Dubai in preparation for their Tunisian venture later this week.

Sulayem said: “I will do whatever it takes to encourage promising young local talent in any discipline of motor sport. We have some of the best talent right here in our backyard, all that is required is for us to identify, encourage and prepare them to compete with the best in the world.”

Mubarak foresees tough competition ahead given the high-quality line-up of riders who have registered for the championship. “We know most of our competitors out there. Barring technical problems, we are confident of making it to the podium,” he said.

Mubarak Al Ali began his racing career in 1998 and, apart from bikes, has also competed in off-road rallies in the UAE and GCC, riding off with second place in the Kuwait Motocross Championship in the MX Class.

Ali Al Qubaisi has also done well for himself over the years having been placed third overall in the MX Class in Kuwait, apart from securing podiums on two occasions in enduros like the one he is participating in Cairo. More recently, last December, Qubaisi finished second in the Asian Supercross Championship held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Balooshi began his career in 2001 and in a short period made his mark as one the best enduro riders in the UAE and GCC region, topping the podium in the 2003-04 UAE Motocross season. Till date, he has bagged 15 wins in the region apart from having raced in France, Belgium and The Netherlands. His most recent victory was in Saudi Arabia in December last where he rode off with the Asian Supercross Championship title.

The Tunisian event will see competitors doing 200 kilometers over 20 loops, each loop of 10 kilometers, in testing desert terrain.

Photo: UAE riders Mubarak Ali, Mohammed Al Balooshi and Ali Al Qubaisi called on FIA Vice President, President of the Automobile & Toruing Club of the UAE and President of the UAE Motorcycle Club Mohammed Ben Sulayem before their departure for Tunisia on Wednesday.

Red Bull, new 2010 partner !

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 10:49:00 +0100

In difficult times, good news are always welcomed.

Actually, Alain Blanchard has just signed a sponsoring agreement with one of the most dynamic firm in terms of corporate image and organisation, Red Bull becomes 2010 partner of the MAXXIS FIM Enduro World Championship.

During a recent trip in Austria, in the headquarters of the firm, leader in energy drinks, that Alain Blanchard succeed in realising this exclusive partnership. Red Bull becomes a main partner of the World Enduro.

With strong values as Endurance and technical and physical difficulties in difficult conditions, Red Bull was seduced of the World Enduro image all the more professional and attractive. And also the passionate audience increasing on each event convinced the Austrian firm, avid of important "audience", young
and popular.

The ABC Communication manager is delighted : "This is really an excellent new for World Enduro the venue of such prestigious partner as Red Bull. It proves that the interest of this Championship keeps on increasing. And also Red Bull, with our loyal partners as MAXXIS, Acerbis or Scorpion, will offer a huge credibility to the World Enduro"

Off-road team to race under the name “BMW Husqvarna Motorsport”

Fri, 12 Feb 2010 13:39:00 +0100

Evolutionary entrant in the FIM Enduro World Championship.

The 2010 season will see BMW Motorrad Motorsport lining up in the E2 class of the FIM Enduro World Championship under the name “BMW Husqvarna Motorsport”. The reason for signing up with the FIM under this new name is to achieve a targeted pooling of off-road racing expertise by the two brands BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna Motorcycles in the area of 450 cc four-stroke engines. The aim is to set up an ideal knowledge transfer through this sporting involvement, while at the same time optimising the team’s performance.

Rainer Thoma, President and CEO of Husqvarna Motorcycles, explains: “In order to achieve sustainable economic as well as sporting success, it is essential to exploit synergies as best we can. That is why we are now collaborating intensively with our colleagues at BMW Motorrad. We are pooling the enormous expertise of both brands: know-how from BMW Motorrad will flow to Husqvarna and vice-versa.”

The BMW Husqvarna Motorsport team is set to live up to this target: it will be entering the season with the BMW G 450 X under the team management of Speedbrain. In parallel with this, over the course of the season Husqvarna Motorcycles will be working together with specialists from BMW Motorrad and Speedbrain to develop a machine based on the Husqvarna frame/chassis concept and coupled with the 450 cc four-stroke engine developed by BMW Motorrad. Following extensive trials, the team plans to deploy the motorcycle in the ongoing event.

BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director Berthold Hauser adds: “Our goal is clear: with the BMW Husqvarna Motorsport team we intend to compete for the title in the E2 class of the 2010 Enduro World Championship. Our E2 class runner-up result in the drivers’ and manufacturers’ championship, our win in the Red Bull Romaniacs and many more triumphs and podium places around the world bear witness to the potential of the BMW G 450 X concept and the team’s outstanding work in the season just past. Our joint involvement in enduro racing now provides the ideal platform on which to test how an authentic Husqvarna with the BMW G 450 X drive concept acquits itself in the competitive arena.”

Team Husqvarna CH Racing will continue to run in the E1 and E3 class of the FIM Enduro World Championship. The Supermoto and Motocross segments will also remain under the Husqvarna banner.

Three different winners in Barcelona: Taddy, Knight and Cervantes!

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 13:55:00 +0100

The last event in the FIM Indoor Enduro World Cup was held this Sunday afternoon in a packed Palau Sant Jordi (Barcelona), with 10,900 spectators.

The qualifying heats for the Enduro final were held throughout the morning. Each heat was divided into three different groups consisting of 12 riders. The first four riders of each group qualified directly for the afternoon´s final, with two more riders having one more opportunity to participate in the final through the last chance.

Such well-known names as this discipline´s current World champion, Tadeusz Blazusiak (KTM), the Catalan rider Iván Cervantes (KTM), David Knight (KTM) or Dougie Lampkin (Beta), did not disappoint, and were assured a place in the final. The first riders qualified in the last chance, and therefore eligible for the final were the Finnish rider Mika Ahola (Honda) and Oriol Mena (Husaberg).

The three finals held in the afternoon were won by David Knight in the first, Tadeusz Blazusiak in the second and Iván Cervantes in the third. As such, the podium in the eleventh edition of the Barcelona International FIM Indoor Enduro was formed up of Tadeusz Blazusiak in first place, and overall champion of the Indoor Enduro World Cup, in second place David Knight and in third Iván Cervantes.

Alter winning nine of the contested races held until now in the World Championships, Tadeusz Blazusiak lost his first two races of the season to David Knight and Iván Cervantes.

QUOTES

Tadeusz Blazusiak: “Today I lost the first races in all the championship, but I managed to win the Barcelona event, and so I´m happy. I´ve finished this championship as leader, and am over the moon”.

David Knight: “I didn´t feel confortable in all today´s races but I´m pleased because I won one of them and I ended up on the podium. I shall leave Barcelona very satisfied”.

Iván Cervantes: ”Whenever I race in Barcelona it´s special, I´m racing at home and in front of my people. I´m pleased because I think I raced well and have had a good championship”.

Ljunggren puts finishing touches to amazing debut IEWC season

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 11:11:00 +0100

A fine fifth place result at the Barcelona Indoor Enduro sees Husaberg’s Joakim Ljunggren secure third position in the ’10 FIM Indoor Enduro World Cup.

Securing his position as not only the best performing newcomer to the ’10 Indoor Enduro World Cup series but as one of Europe’s very best indoor enduro riders, Joakim Ljunggren continued his impressive results in the ’10 IEWC series placing fifth overall at the action packed Barcelona Indoor Enduro. Coming into the event off the back of his best ever IEWC result – second overall at round three of the championship in Vigo – Joakim was focused on just on e thing at the series’ fourth and final event – ensuring that he finished third in the championship. And following three eventful races that’s exactly what he did.

“I never expected to finish the Indoor Enduro World Cup series with such a good final position,” admitted a thrilled Joakim after the prize giving ceremony. “Being my first season of indoor enduro racing I knew I would be up against a lot of fast and experienced riders. For me a top five result would have been great, so I’m thrilled to have ended the championship in third. The most important thing for me though is that I learned a lot during the championship, and generally things improved throughout the four races. I feel I’m a much stronger indoor enduro rider now. I could see that a third place finish was possible after the second round of the championship, so that was my goal.”

With the final round of the ’10 IEWC series incorporating a round of the Trials World Championship the capacity crowd enjoyed some thrilling action with Joakim once again leading the Husaberg charge. Although not able to make it onto the podium at the end of the event he put the finishing touches to what has been a fantastic debut IEWC season. Quickly showing himself to be one of the fastest riders Joakim topped his heat race before battling his way to two fourth and one sixth place results.

“Things were generally really good for me here in Barcelona. It was a great course and I felt good every time I was on the track. Winning my heat race was a great start to the event. Although it was hard not to make mistakes I managed to stay out of trouble. The first final was tough. I had an ok start and spent the whole race working hard to try and improve my position. I made a few mistakes but finishing fourth was a good result. I was last off the start in the second final, which made things pretty difficult. I managed to work my way up to fourth again, which I was really happy with. There were some really difficult sections on the track, but things went well again.”

Knowing that he was headed for the third in the championship the night’s last final saw Joakim come close to crashing early in the race before several small mistakes hampered his progress. “I had a really tough time in the final race,” admitted Joakim. “I got a good start but in the rock section after the finish line area I almost crashed over the bars. I was almost last and had more problems once I got going, but I finished sixth, which was ok. It was a tough night because there wasn’t much time between the finals to recover. I’m thrilled to have ended the championship third.

“My focus is now on my preparations for the World Enduro Championship but I can’t wait to do more indoor events. Competing on the FE 390 has been great, it’s been the perfect bike and finishing third in the championship is a result I’m really pleased with.”

Joining Joakim in the finals was Oriol Mena. After winning his thrilling LCQ race Oriol found the finals tough and failed to finish inside the top 10. “My LCQ race was tough, but to qualify for the finals was great, especially with so many people supporting me. I just wanted to try and do my best and enjoy myself. It’s the second indoor race that I have qualified for the finals and again I learned a lot. I’m not a natural indoor enduro rider, but I enjoyed the event. But I’m looking forward to the World Enduro Championship now.”

Final 1
1. David Knight (KTM) 7.2:958
2. Taddy Blazusiak (KTM) 7.33:220
3. Daniel Gibert (Yamaha) 7.45:547
4. Joakim Ljunggren (Husaberg) 7.53:831
5. Mika Ahola (Honda) 8.0:280
13. Oriol Mena (Husaberg) 7.41:601

Final 2
1. Taddy Blazusiak (KTM) 7.17:023
2. Ivan Cervantes (KTM) 7.29:062
3. David Knight (KTM) 7.46:345
4. Joakim Ljunggren (Husaberg) 7.53:631
5. Dougie Lampkin (Beta) 7.58:664
12. Oriol Mena (Husaberg) 8.46:556

Final 3
1.Ivan Cervantes (KTM) 7.15:106
2. Taddy Blazusiak (KTM) 7.19:931
3. David Knight (KTM) 7.42.866
4. Daniel Gibert (Yamaha) 7.50:479
5. Graham Jarvis (Sherco) 8.04:218
6. Joakim Ljunggren (Husaberg) 8.13:450

Despres takes third Dakar win.

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 16:56:00 +0100

The Dakar Rally once more lived up to it’s status as the biggest motorsport event on the planet with over 350,000 people lining the streets in Buenos Aires for the start of the 14 stage, 9,000 km rally, kickstarting Argentina and Chile’s bicentennial celebrations.

Spaniard Marc Coma started with the No.1 plate as defending champion, but there was pressure from fellow KTM rider Cyril Despres, another two time victor.

However, the form book was thrown immediately out of the window with the new team from France, Sherco, winning the opening stage with David Casteu riding. It was a shock to the establishment for the 450cc bike to win the first stage that should have suited the KTM 690s, but this year's Dakar was a crossover year; air restrictors strangling the big 690cc KTMs against free breathing, smaller 450s that are to be the norm for all riders in 2011.

Casteu managed to keep in touch at the top of the overall rankings for the first half of the rally only to crash hard on stage 5, injuring his leg.

That left Cyril Despres leading from the third stage onwards riding hard but well within himself as Marc Coma closed.
However, the rally was blown apart early on when Coma was handed a 22 minute penalty for speeding through a village. Dakar organisers ASO take the security of the areas crossed ultra seriously with speed permanently recorded by GPS, and then figures checked each evening.
There was no hiding the long arm of the law.

Coma ran into further problems when en-route to Fiambala in choking 48 degree heat. His bike overheated and wouldn't restart numerous times, losing him a further 42 minutes, while on the next stage his rear tyre punctured costing him yet more time. It just wasn’t his year, but some goodwill was over the horizon for the Spaniard when Luca Manca gave his rear wheel to Coma on the stage; Manca then happy to wait for someone else’s wheel.

But the knockout blow was handed to the reigning champion when he was penalised a massive 6 hours when he was adjudged to have illegally received a wheel on stage 7 before the rest day, causing him to question wether he’d even start the second half of the rally. He did, and won some stages along the way, but in the end he finished 15th overall.

Despres was not without his problems along the way too with his KTM running into overheating problems similar to Coma, but getting away with it to a lesser degree. However the leader’s big fright was on stage 8 when he hit a rock at speed, buckling both wheels causing the Frenchman to take the front wheel of his team mate, Ruben Faria, and finish the stage with spokes missing in his rear. It was a close call as the heat of the Atacama desert was returning for the riders, but Despres still held a lead of 1h 20mins.

The rest day took place on the shores of the Pacific Ocean at the mining town of Antofagasto in Chile with President Michelle Bachelet even came to the bivouac giving support to all the crews, especially local rider Francisco Lopez.

Lopez was heading the charge of Aprilia with their 450cc effort, holding his own throughout the seven stages that took place ‘his’ side of the Andes. He did a superb effort, battling all the way to the finish line for second place, only losing out to Norwegian Pal Anders Ullevalseter in the last kilometres, but winning two stages along the way nonetheless. 3rd overall and leading 450cc bike was still a massive result for the Italian squad.

Once more David Fretigne’s Yamaha 450 was another stage winner high in the Andes as the Frenchman fought back from an electrical fault in the first week. Were it not for that glitch he may well have pushed Despres harder at the top of the overall rankings…but in the end he got a superb 5th position come the finish, just one spot behind Helder Rodrigues’similar Yamaha.

This left Despres to sail back into Buenos Aires as Dakar Champion for the 3rd time, and to join a very elite club of just three people who have won the Dakar in Africa, and in South America. Himself, Marc Coma and truck driver Vladimir Chagin.

From the 151 bikes that started the rally, 88 of them managed to complete the event; former French rugby player Christian Califano in the final position giving people some idea how tough the event is – and he played for France 72 times!

The Quad class was a very Argentine affair with Marcos Patronelli winning the class for the second year on the bounce – maintaining his 100% winning record on the rally after dominating the 2009 event too. His brother Alejandro took second in the class making them the centre of attention for the Argentine media when they returned to Buenos Aires. Both were riding Yamahas.

Swede Annie Seel once more amazed people at her strength aboard her KTM 525, even escaping a drop down a six metre deep hole that needed a helicopter to get the bike out. She won the ladies’ class ahead of Italian Silvia Gianetti.

Rookie Dakar rider Luca Manca sped through to 4th place in the first week, but had a serious crash on stage 5, but the Italian was urgently repatriated to Santiago and has since regained conciousness and responding to doctors and his father. He hopes to return to Italy soon.

The stages were split 50/50 between Argentina and Chile; the western side of the Andes getting more stages than 2009 and the Atacama desert – the driest desert on earth and 50 time drier than Death Valley giving the TV and photographers a perfect place to work.

Positively, there were three different manufacturers inside the top 4 over the line with KTM, Aprilia and Yamaha all looking forward to 2011 and the new 450cc regulations to try and reduce out and out top speed.
Add to that Sherco and BMW in the hands of Frans Verhoeven who nearly won a stage, and Paulo Goncalves who was 6th overall before a crash, and the Dakar has never looked so healthy in a long time.

Husqvarna CH Racing Enduro & Supermotard Teams together in the snow

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 09:49:00 +0100

Antoine Meo, Bartosz Oblucki, Sebastien Guillaume, Matti Seistola,Mauno Hermunen and Adrien Chareyre have gathered together after Christmas holidays for an intensive training before the new racing season begins.

2010 racing Seasons has started for Husqvarna CH Racing Team Enduro and Supermotard teams’ riders from Cogne, in the Italian region of Aosta.
Guided by the super active Team Manager Fabrizio Azzalin, 6 of the 7 Husqvarna Enduro factory riders – new entry for 2010 Chris Hollis is still “sun bathing” in his beautiful Australia and will join next month the team - have met on the beautiful mountains of Aosta for a week of hard physical training before starting the new season.

French riders Antoine Meo, Seb Guillaume and Adrien Chareyre, the Finnish Matti Seistola and Mauno Hermunen, the Polish rider Bartosz Oblucki and the “intruder” MX rider Alex Salvini, are now working on improving their physical condition to reach the best shape ever to achieve the highest results in the international races. Also, putting the two teams together, has made the riders focus on the common targets and enforce the team spirit.

No bike riding is included in this training, the riders will start with the testing and developing of their TE 250s, WR 300s and SM 450RRs next week. Now it’s all about winter sports: long excursions and skiing, with also a little SPA time to recharge the batteries.

A very effective way to start the new season in which all Husqvarna riders have one goal only, victory, as team manager Fabrizio Azzalin explains: “Our target is to win two world titles in Enduro and one in Supermoto. We have all the necessary ingredients to reach that goal: skilled riders, performing bikes and a perfect structured team. Our group is now like a family, we have never been so in shape and compact as we are now.”

“It will be a very important season for Husqvarna brand – added Husqvarna Racing Activities Coordinator Martino Bianchi – we have presented new products and we have extremely important goals to achieve both in Enduro and in Supermotard, in which we are world champions in charge with the three world titles conquered last year. Also in the motocross category we want victory, and we’ll claim it. Here in Cogne I’ve seen in the riders’ eyes the urge to reach these results and their physical preparation is excellent. We will surely play a main role in the 2010 national and international championships.”

Jonah Street - 2010 Dakar

Tue, 12 Jan 2010 08:29:00 +0100

After a rest day on Saturday the 2010 Dakar was back to business on Sunday with Stage 8. Top 1 rider Jonah Street finished stage 8 in 13th and is in 7th position overall. The word from the team is that Jonah is feeling good and looking forward to conquering the coming stages by continuing to ride smart.

Jonah has always been a strong finisher so don't be surprised to see Jonah work up through the field.

Please remember to follow Jonah and the Dakar at the following websites and media outlets:

Websites:

www.dakar.com - www.rallypanam.com - www.top1oil.com