The AMA is pleased to announce the rosters for the U.S. Women's Trophy Team, the U.S. Junior Trophy Team and the members of the U.S. club teams that will carry the banner for American off-road racing honor at the 2009 International Six Days Enduro (ISDE) in Figueria da Foz, Portugal, Oct. 12-17.
"We're thrilled that these world-class riders are joining the ISDE effort as part of Team USA," said AMA Director of Racing Joe Bromley. "Campaigning the ISDE takes skill and dedication. It's not only six days of the toughest motorcycle racing on the planet, but months of preparation to get there. The AMA members who have stepped up to race for America at the 85th ISDE rank among this country's most-talented riders and we look forward to supporting them in Portugal this October."
The U.S. Junior Trophy Team fields four riders 23 years old or younger. Led by five-time ISDE veteran Team Captain David Kamo (shown above), the Junior Trophy Team also will include defending AMA/Rekluse National Enduro Champion Russell Bobbitt, Grand National Cross Country racer Cory Buttrick and WORCS racer Jamie Lanza.
"We have the team we wanted to have," said Kamo, who's currently leading the points for the 2009 AMA Racing National Hare & Hound Championship. "It's a strong team. We have an enduro racer, a WORCS racer, a GNCC racer and a desert racer. Russell is super fast, Jamie will never give up, and Cory, as well as he's going in the GNCCs this year, he deserves to be there. As for me, I'm just happy to be on the team and, honestly, I hope those guys ride so well that I'm our drop-out rider. If I'm the drop-out rider, that just means everyone else is riding strong."
Current plans call for Lanza to race the E1 class, which features 100cc to 125cc two-stroke and 175cc to 250cc four-stroke motorcycles; Bobbitt and Buttrick to race the E2 class, which features 175cc to 250cc two-stroke and 290cc to 450cc four-stroke motorcycles; and Kamo to ride the E3 class, which features 290cc to 500cc two-stroke and 475cc to 650cc four-stroke motorcycles.
The U.S. Women's Trophy Team finished second in Greece last year to the French team, a year after winning the Women's World Cup in Chile. The team will include veterans Maria Forsberg, Mandi Mastin and Lacy Jones.
"I am extremely excited to be going to Portugal this year representing the United States Women's Trophy Team," Mastin said. "This will be the eighth ISDE that I have competed in and the third since the Women's World Team was created. I consider it a great honor to be involved in the race and look forward to going to Portugal healthy and ready to bring home the trophy again this year. Maria proved last year in Greece that she has what it takes to compete with some of the fastest women in the world, and Lacy is also a returning member to the team with two ISDE experiences. The three of us plan on working as hard as we can to win the Women's World Trophy again this year."
While the Trophy Team, the Women's Trophy Team and the Junior Trophy Team are a critical piece of the U.S. effort, they are a small part of the entire U.S. contingent that makes the trek to the annual event. Dozens of club team riders will also represent the U.S. at the 2009 ISDE.
The following riders were selected as club team members: Toby Atkins, David Booth, Jordan Brandt, Joel Burkett, Billy Burns, Nick Fahringer, Jeff Fredette, Don Grahn, Nick Hamill, Fred Hoess, Zach Lipana, Brent Martell, Garrett Mayer, Shawn O'Leary, Ryan Powell, Ben Smith, Brian Sperle, Rory Sullivan, Troy Swettenam, Lars Valin and Chilly White.
America's motorcyclists can help support Team USA, and looking good while doing it, by buying an official Team USA ISDE T-Shirt. All proceeds support the massive effort to transport the riders, bikes and crew to and from Portugal. To buy a shirt, just visit the AMA's online store.
TROPHY TEAM
Destry Abbott
Kurt Caselli
Ricky Dietrich
Nathan Kanney
Timmy Weigand
Damon Huffman
JUNIOR TROPHY TEAM
Russell Bobbitt
David Kamo
Jamie Lanza
Cory Buttrick
WOMEN'S WORLD CUP TEAM
Lacy Jones
Mandi Mastin
Maria Forsberg
JAFMAR RACING (Laura Claypoole, manager)
Jeff Fredette
Chilly White
Don Grahn
MISSOURI MUDDERS (Jay Hall, manager)
Lars Valin
Toby Atkins
Billy Burns
TONY AGONIS (Bob Agonis, manager)
Fred Hoess
Nick Fahringer
Ben Smith
DESERT MC
Shawn O'Leary
Joel Burkett
Nick Hamill
GO FASTERS.COM (Steve Berkner, manager)
Brian Sperle
Ryan Powell
Jordan Brandt
NW CLUB TEAM
Rory Sullivan
Troy Swettenam
Zach Lipana
CLUB TEAM 2
Brent Martell
David Booth
Garrett Mayer