From the Isle of Man TT to the Dakar Rally, and now the NOCO FIM 6DAYS®, Great Britain’s James Hillier is one of the most well-rounded competitors in the paddock.
As a TT winner and podium finisher, racing high-speed on roads in the middle of the Irish Sea is Hillier’s true expertise, but venturing out of his comfort zone to a race like the NOCO FIM 6DAYS®, is something he hugely enjoys.
“I love to challenge myself in different motorcycle disciplines,” tells Hiller, going into the latter part of the week in Galicia. “I don’t know why more people don’t do it; I love the variation.”
In some ways, the NOCO FIM 6DAYS® and the Isle of Man TT are very similar. They both have over one hundred years of heritage, feature a format that is largely unchanged in that time, and most importantly, are among the few sporting events where amateurs and professionals compete together at the same time, under the same conditions.
For Hillier, it is a case of role reversal in Galicia. Competing for fun in the Club Team Award category, the NOCO FIM 6DAYS® is quite the change for him. He is also riding a KOVE 450 Rally motorcycle that he will contest January’s Dakar Rally on too.
“While the TT is my bread and butter, I can come here as an amateur enduro rider and race with the best in the world.
“That is quite a special thing to be able to do. Enabling professional and amateur riders to compete together allows the everyday guy to mix it with the world’s best riders. It’s rare to get that contrast in any other sports.
“At the end of each day, I look to the time sheets. It always amazes me just how fast the top enduro riders go.”