Written by:
AMA Communications
American Motorcyclist Association
03/27/2009
Pickerington, OH
The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) is pleased to announce the riders who will contest the 84th International Six Days Enduro for the U.S. World Trophy Team. Returning to take on the world this Oct. 12-17 in Figueira da Foz, Portugal, are the riders who rode to a third-place team finish on Team USA at last year's event: Destry Abbott, Kurt Caselli, Ricky Dietrich, Jimmy Jarrett, Nathan Kanney and Nathan Woods.
"In 2008, Team USA had its best performance at the ISDE in years, and it was only appropriate to reunite the riders who brought us so close to victory," said AMA Off-Road Racing Manager Chuck Weir. "We are reloaded. We are ready. We are looking forward to showing the best off-roaders in the world that Team USA is not just a threat to place, but a threat to win at this storied international competition."
Returning to represent the U.S. Trophy team for the third time is Team Captain Caselli. The 25-year-old Caselli, who races the Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) Series for Shock Doctor/KTM, battled for the overall lead at the 2008 ISDE before crashing out on day three. In 2007, Caselli also led a significant portion of the event en route to winning the E3 class. In 2006, Caselli was a member of the championship Junior Trophy Team.
"We're going with the same team we had last year, and we're just as motivated and excited to ride this year's ISDE and just as motivated to win," said Caselli, who likely will ride a KTM 300XC in the E3 class. "We like the location this year. Portugal is dry, rocky and dusty -- kind of like what we have out west, where the majority of our team is from."
Caselli said the team is confident for the '09 event.
"As long as we stay healthy and the bikes hold together, I really like our chances of getting on the podium this year," Caselli said. "It's not going to be easy, though. I know Finland is going to have a strong team. The Europeans bring a lot of talent. It's not going to be any easier than it has in the past, but I think we have a good shot."
