Team USA at the 77th ISDE

Jablonec nad Nisou, Czech Republic
September 24-29, 2002

Day 1

Sept. 24 – The first Team USA rider, #10 Fred Hoess (World Trophy), started at 7:33 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 24.

Temperatures this morning were just above freezing. Many bikes had difficulty starting. Not only did the bikes have problems, but many cameras would not operate due to extremely cold temperatures. The course for the day was mainly roads, with average speeds of 50kms.

Rumor has it that the organizer wants to eliminate many riders to keep the environmentalists happy. They accomplished that by having a schedule that was impossible for many to maintain.

The second rumor circulating today alleged that the entire day's competition may be thrown out. Not so — only checks 3, 5, 8 and the pre-finish check were thrown out, but even that allowed many riders to start Day 2.

Many riders, including more than eleven from Team USA, must attend traffic school on Wednesday evening, after getting caught  speeding.

USA Team members, Curt Wilcox and Mark Thompson were excluded from the competition for missing an Observation Check (#7). However, Jury Representative, Hugh Fleming, is appealing the decision, as riders stated that their time card was punched, not the observation card. As of 9 a.m. Wednesday, we hope to have both Curt and Mark out on the course.

Junior Trophy rider Bill Radecky DNF'd on Day 1 due to engine failure. Enduro Riders club team member Carroll Dickerson suffered transmission failure and will not restart.

The Boise Ridge Riders club team was completely wiped out, with Ryan Dean houring out with at least five flat tires, Gabriel Reos with an, engine failure and Mark Thompson's exclusion. However, Gabriel Reos was given permission to re-impound due to an FIM rule that allows one Club Team rider to restart.

After a 3.5 hour Jury Meeting Tuesday evening (beginning at 9 p.m.), the organizers were instructed to modify the time schedule for Day 2, with a modified "B" schedule, adding approximately 13 minutes per lap.

Stay tuned...

© 2002, American Motorcyclist Association

Mvc-603l.jpg (77341 bytes)
Trophy rider Ron Schmelzle changing a tire before the start of Day 2
Mvc-604l.jpg (106281 bytes)
Trophy rider Greg Gillian changing oil before start of Day 2
Mvc-599l.jpg (88075 bytes)
Junior Trophy rider Wally Palmer preparing for start of Day 2
Mvc-598l.jpg (79811 bytes)
Trophy rider Fred Hoess changing top end before start of Day 2
Mvc-601l.jpg (114110 bytes)
Trophy rider David Pearson (Top American after Day 1) at the beginning of Day 2
Mvc-600l.jpg (100675 bytes)
Trophy rider Brian Sperle, start of Day 2
Mvc-578l.jpg (86520 bytes)
Trophy rider Fred Hoess start of Day 1 work area
Mvc-602l.jpg (94985 bytes)
Junior Trophy rider Morgan Crawford (start of Day 2)
Mvc-579l.jpg (74694 bytes)
Junior Trophy rider Wally Palmer start of Day 1 work area
Mvc-590l.jpg (107754 bytes)
Club Team rider, Randy Mastin (Family R Us) at the start of Day 1.