Words: ETdotKomm
The Cargo-Tac Husqvarna Factory Racing works rider, ALTUS DE WET, has completed his first attempt of the ‘International Six Days Enduro’ (ISDE) that took place at San Juan in Argentina (South America) and can tick this gruelling annual enduro event off on his list of successful international events.
Photo credit: Manuel Flores
DE WET, who has just been crowned as the SA National E2 (Open Class) Enduro Champion for the second consecutive year, competed in the ISDE with his Husqvarna 300 2-stroke that was prepared and sent via container to Argentina about a month before the event kicked off on 3 November.
The ISDE is an enduro motorcycle event like no other and despite the six consecutive days of racing, competitors have to work on their bikes themselves while they are limited to which parts and equipment they can change during the course of the race. This forces competitors to make sure they preserve their racing machines AND themselves so as to be able to compete for six consecutive days. The countries also compete in various teams and DE WET formed part of the World Trophy Team with his team-mates Charan Moore, Brett Swanepoel, Marc Torlage and Albert Pos.
After walking all the stages the week prior to the start of the event in blistering heat, the riders tackled between five and six special stages each day and spent an average of about six hours in the saddle each day.
DE WET said afterwards that he is happy to have completed the event and even though he would’ve liked better results – he finished ninth in the E3 Class for motorcycles with an engine capacity of 290-500cc / 2-stroke – it was acceptable taking all the factors into concideration. He was also the highest placed South African and the SA World Trophy Team finished the race in 10th place despite only himself and Torlage finished the race in this category (Brendan Swanevelder was the only SA riders of four who finished the race in the Junior World Trophy category).
“It was extremely dusty and our experience with the fesh-fesh was not good. If you do not know what to expect of the fine powdery dust, you do not know how to ride in it,” DE WET said. “It also took me the best part of the first two days to learn how to read the lines. The international riders who compete in the World Enduro Championship are very fast and we still have a lot to learn. I also have to up my game with the motocross sections,” he explained.
When most of the riders (111 in total) fell out during the third day mostly due to the dusty conditions, DE WET changed the air filter on his Husqvarna on numerous occassions. He did not experience any mechanical problems and his high level of fitness ensure that he could race competitively each day – despite the extreme heat or cold.
“I enjoyed the event and enjoyed the racing more after the first three days. You have to think about all the rules all the time as they are very strict, but now that I have finished my first ISDE, I know what to expect,” he concluded.
NEXT: ALTUS will now focus on the Roof of Africa, the extreme enduro event that takes place in the Mountain Kingdom of Lesotho from 4 to 6 December. This event stretches over three days of racing and DE WET is aiming for a good result – he finished second in 2012 and hopes to put his Husqvarna on the podium again.
Follow ALTUS DE WET: Twitter @AltusdeWet / Facebook Altus de Wet / Instagram altusdewet / www.dirtracing.co.za
