Kiwi Rider September 2022 Vol.2 | Page 52

The FIM ISDE competition was this year staged at Le Puy-En-Velay , just 135 kilometres south-west of the city of Lyon , the third-largest city in France , and it again attracted the world ’ s dirt biking elite , including an official contingent to represent New Zealand for the first time in 16 years . The New Zealanders finished 16th and 7th overall in the World Trophy and Junior World Trophy Team ( under-23 ) categories respectively and this was a fantastic result for a small country in the South Pacific , battling so far from home at this ‘ Olympic Games of motorcycling ’ for the first time in what could almost be considered a lifetime , certainly for today ’ s crop of young Kiwis .

However , as an exceptional week of racing wrapped up at the venue in southern France , it was the four-rider Trophy Team from Britain that eventually crossed the finish line in first place , to be crowned the ISDE World Champions for 2022 . In a dramatic turn of fortune , Italy clinched the runner-up position in the final moments of the final motocross test on day six . With team leader Andrea Verona ( GasGas ) winning day six overall , the Italians beat Spain to the runner-up position by an incredible five tenths of one second and that was after almost 13 hours of racing over the six days . But it was Spain ’ s Josep Garcia ( KTM ) who finished up as top individual overall at this year ’ s ISDE .
PARK FERME
52 KIWI RIDER