The following is from the American Motorcyclist Association, regarding its announcement of the 2017 International Six Days Enduro (ISDE) Qualifier Series:
PICKERINGTON, OH, December 1, 2016–Future U.S. International Six Days Enduro team members will prove their mettle in the AMA ISDE Qualifier Series, designed to provide a world-class test for American off-road racers with an eye on international competition.
The American Motorcyclist Association has sanctioned qualifier rounds for the ISDE since the world championship event was known as the International Six Days Trial. The qualifiers have changed over the years to meet the needs of the U.S. team. For 2017, the AMA is returning to a series format.
The AMA ISDE East Qualifier Series will have rounds in Florida, South Carolina and Tennessee. The AMA ISDE West Qualifier Series will be held in California, Idaho and Washington. Each round of the East and West series will run a two-day format with four of the six days used to qualify riders. The top-five riders in each ISDE series will qualify.
Following the regional series, an additional three-day qualifier will be held in Tennessee with all three days plus the best one-day finish from the East or West series being used to qualify eight additional riders.
“Not only are we making it tougher, while giving riders more opportunities to qualify, we are also working very hard on raising funds to reduce costs across the board,” said AMA Off-Road Manager Erek Kudla. “I want the U.S. teams to sweep the podiums at the 2017 ISDE in France, and making our qualifying competition even stiffer, plus helping our riders get there, is the best way to accomplish that.”
At the 2016 ISDE in Spain, the U.S. World Trophy Team won the event for the first time in ISDE history, which dates back more than 100 years to 1913.
“After our big win at the 2016 ISDE in Spain, it is really important to ride that momentum and strengthen the USA team spirit, as well as bring back the prestige of the qualifiers themselves,” Kudla said.
In addition to reconstituting the qualifiers in a series format to qualify riders who submit a Letter of Intent to ride at the ISDE in 2017, A, B and C classes will compete for regional championships while developing the skills needed to be future ISDE qualifying riders.
Additional rules and selection details will be announced soon and published at www.americanmotorcyclist.com.
2017 AMA ISDE East Qualifier Series
Round 1: Jan. 21-22, Seville, Fla. River City Dirt Riders
Round 2: Feb. 11-12, Gaston, S.C. Full Gas Enduro Series
Round 3: Feb. 25-26, Greeneville, Tenn. Full Gas Enduro Series
2017 AMA ISDE West Qualifier Series
Round 1: Jan. 28-29, Gorman, Calif. Ventura County MC
Round 2: March 11-12, Payatte, Idaho. Boise Ridge Riders
Round 3: April 1-2, Washougal, Wash. Lobos MC
2017 AMA ISDE 3-Day Qualifier
May 12-14, Johnson City, Tenn. Full Gas Enduro Series
About the American Motorcyclist Association
Founded in 1924, the AMA is a not-for-profit member-based association whose mission is to promote the motorcycle lifestyle and protect the future of motorcycling. As the world’s largest motorcycling rights and event sanctioning organization, the AMA advocates for riders’ interests at all levels of government and sanctions thousands of competition and recreational events every year. The AMA also provides money-saving discounts on products and services for its members. Through the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio, the AMA honors the heroes and heritage of motorcycling. For more information, visit www.americanmotorcyclist.com.