Tuesday October 25, 2016 at 11:53am
The inaugural FIM ISDE Vintage Trophy was held in Navarra Spain from the 13th to 16th October 2016, nine riders represented Team GBR coming from England, Wales, Scotland and the Isle of Man.
Motorcycles up to 1986 were eligible for the event with four classes, up to 1986, 81, 76, 72. The largest group was ‘81 comprising more than half the entry, Team GBR had representation in all but the ‘76 class with a lone entry for Jason Mcnee on a Cheney Triumph in the ‘72 class.
Rider support was given by Liz Millett, Polly Harding, Angharad Stobbs, Ed Stobbs, Ruth Stobbs, Sian Barnett, Katie Stokes and Dyfed Dirt bike members who also helped the Welsh Six day crews. Sam Davidson was helped by Team Scotland’s crew. Liz Millett also acted as pre-event admin co-ordinator. The crew also took expat Team Australia’s sole entrant Michael Harding under their wing on his Cagiva
Riders and teams arrived at the event over several days with some taking in a day’s spectating of the main event giving them an idea of the terrain.
The event was based at the Los Arcos race circuit and the gravel access roads formed the warm up route for day one action of the acceleration test. The five-km run out steadied the nerves of the riders before taking their turn at the acceleration test, fast starting Jon Stobbs took the lead for Team GBR and the overall day win on his KTM 420.
Day two had riders setting off in pairs taking in a full lap of what the Six day riders had run on days 3-4 but in reverse. The course was well marked taking in a few climbs and descents into the hills north of Los Arcos before check one at Ancin. Test 2, a cross test with a loop into some woods was fast flowing with a few log and tyre obstacles thrown in for good measure. Husky mounted Ian Barnett made a break for the front from Jon Stobbs with Dylan Davies Husky in the top 15.
The run to check 2 at Zuniga was a flowing single track straight into test 3 before service, an enduro test mostly on rocky single track with a fast field mx section had another good showing from Barnett, Stobbs and KDX250 mounted Cefin Evans in 13th . Julian Crimp also put in another top 20 time, further back Rob Drake on a twin shock XR200 was wishing for more power or tighter going on the tests, David Donald was having plug fouling issues on his PE175 while Sam Davidson was suffering traction problems on his SWM. Jason Mcnee however was making a name for himself aboard the Cheney Triumph running in the top 30 with a class lead of six seconds.
The third check back to the end of day two was the longest one with hill climbs, big descents and a single-track ridge ride through some stunning landscapes. Luckily the weather and the rain from previous days kept the dust down but had dried enough for the clay and rock tracks to be tractable making the day perfect for all the vintage riders. All the Team GBR riders finished the day in good shape with David Donald taking a minute penalty for checking in early after thinking he’d dropped time.
Day three was an MX test with the riders split into two groups based on their previous day results, positions were close with everything to play for. The vintage riders were glad not to have been first out on the track as the organisers had spent all night watering, by the time the first vintage riders were out it was again perfect conditions. A sighting lap was followed by a drop gate MX start which was nearly the undoing of Barnetts good work as he’d claimed never to have seen a drop gate before and pushed his front wheel against the bar whilst lining up, luckily someone pointed out the error. First away were the second half of the field, David Donald made a good start with a chasing Rob Drake who bogged down in the race circuits gravel trap section before picking off a few riders to take himself up three places in the overall standing. In the top riders heat Jason Mcnee only had to keep sight of a chasing Bultaco for the class win, however a missed gear change and following rider crashing into him meant a missed lap and subsequent time penalty dropping him disappointingly to third in class. The Barnett/Stobbs train had maintained their speed but it was the consistent Barnett with his top five finishes in every test that took the highest placed GB rider over Stobbs with Evans taking third by only one second over Davies.
With all GBR riders and fellow Australian Team member safely back to Parc Ferme it was a 100% finishing record. With the top three from each national team going through as the Trophy Team it was to be Barnett, Stobbs and Evans who would eagerly await the results.
The results and podium presentations were delayed for an hour but nobody minded as the paddock/podium area filled with music, tyre smoking burn outs and the sound of bouncing valves whilst the tension built up. Then the results came in, Team GBR had done it, a beer or two was passed around before the ceremonies commenced.
Ian Barnett and Jon Stobbs took Silver and Bronze in the ‘81 class whilst Jason Mcnee took Bronze in the ‘72 class.
Ian Barnett, Jon Stobbs and Cefin Evans took Gold in the Trophy class whilst a very proud Team GBR cheered them all on.
Hopefully the first of many ISDE Vintage Trophy events for Team GB.
A big thanks to all the organisers, helpers and fellow riders from all countries who made this an event to remember.
Ian Barnett “That was bloody brilliant”
Cefin Evans “That’s the first time I’ve ever won anything”
Crimpy “I’ve finally found someone that makes me look teetotal”
David Donald “I’ll just ride to the first ditch and look at it for five minutes”
Awards compare “Jason Mcnee, can you please leave the podium!”
Team GBR riders report by Rob Drake