AMA announces Trophy Team for ISDE

From the American Motorcyclist Association

PICKERINGTON, OH - The American Motorcyclist Association is pleased to announce the U.S. Trophy Team that will take on the world at the 2008 International Six Days Enduro in Serres, Greece. For the 83rd ISDE, the following riders will contest the World Trophy Team Championship for Team USA: Destry Abbott, Kurt Caselli, Ricky Dietrich, Jimmy Jarrett, Nathan Kanney and Nathan Woods.

"We are extremely honoured to have riders of this caliber representing the United States at the ISDE," said AMA Off-Road Racing Director Chuck Weir. "Thanks to new selection procedures this year, we're able to name our Trophy Team much earlier than in the past. This not only allows us to field our best riders, but it gives everyone involved an opportunity to be as prepared as possible to represent the United States at this storied international event."

One veteran on Team USA this year will be the 35-year-old Abbott, who is contesting the AMA FMF Racing National Hare & Hound Series for Monster Energy Kawasaki. The four-time AMA National Hare & Hound Champion is a two-time ISDE Gold Medalist and will be representing the United States on the Trophy Team for the fourth time. It will be his fifth time competing in the event.

"The team is very prepared this year. All six of us are committed and see this as a true team effort. We want to do what's best for the team and we're going to do whatever it takes," said Abbott, who is planning to ride a Kawasaki KX450.

The Trophy Team is one of three premier teams that represent the United States at the ISDE. The Trophy Team features six riders who compete in all three displacement classes that contest the ISDE: the E1 class, which features 100cc to 125cc two-stroke and 175cc to 250cc four-stroke motorcycles; the E2 class, which features 175cc to 250cc two-stroke and 290cc to 450cc four-stroke motorcycles; and the E3 class, which features 290cc to 500cc two-stroke and 475cc to 650cc four-stroke motorcycles.

The other premier teams are the Junior Trophy Team, which fields four riders younger than 23-years old, competing in a minimum of two classes, and the Women's Trophy Team, which fields three riders.

While the riders are clearly the most important part of the ISDE program, it wouldn't happen without a solid group of dedicated sponsors. Some of the companies who are making Team USA a possibility in 2008 are: Arai Helmets, Spectro Lubricants, Kenda Tires, Bob Lamphere's Beaverton Honda Yamaha, MSR/Tucker Rocky and Mountain Glass.