Just opening a thread. The conditions that will be ridden in Portugal favor our squad for the most part. Plus they have been training in the South West to mimic local course terrain conditions. Australia will also be feeling it and they have brought up the Minotauro as an alternate for one of their injured (Matt Phillips) trophy team members. For the vintage/vet ISDE class all votes are the Italian team of world champions and world trophy winners, Sala, Rinaldi and Passeri. My bet is on Stefano Passeri for the vet OA. He is very current on the Italian vintage circuit and rides more than most current era riders! (that's from local Bergamo insider info)
Multi time ISDE vet and Gold medalist extraordinaire Fred Hoess will be on a vintage HUSKY representing the (himself) USA for 2019. Hope he shows well!! He is capable of the OA among very stiff vet vintage ITDE (3 day) competition. Go Fred!!
Got the news today, local pro racer, 2019 NHHA champ, and fellow 100s MC member Jacob Argubright was out with engine trouble. Though he's on Kawi and on the privateer path after splitting with Rock Star Husqvarna, he's a great guy and it's a real bummer.
TROPHY 1 USA 2 AUSTRALIA 3 ITALY WOMEN 1 USA 2 GERMANY 3 UK JUNIOR 1 AUSTRALIA 2 USA 3 SPAIN VINTAGE 1 ITALY 2 GERMANY 3 FRANCE TEAM/CLUB 1 USA 2 FRANCE
Turned out to be a great year for the US. New England represented well with Ben Kelley and Josh Toth coming up big!