AMA finalizes US teams for ISDE

From the American Motorcyclist Association

PICKERINGTON, OH -- The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) has announced the rosters for the U.S. Women's Trophy Team, the U.S. Junior Trophy Team and the members of the U.S. club teams that will carry the banner for American off-road racing honour at the 2009 International Six Days Enduro (ISDE) in Figueria da Foz, Portugal, Oct. 12-17.

In addition, Timmy Weigand will replace the injured Nathan Woods on the U.S. World Trophy Team, which will contest the World Trophy Team Championship. Woods was injured while competing in Round 6 of the World Off-Road Championship Series (WORCS).

Weigand, who will be representing the United States at the ISDE for the first time, rides for Johnny Campbell Racing, primarily in the AMA-sanctioned World Off-Road Championship Series. The other members of the U.S. World Trophy Team, which was announced in March, include Destry Abbott, Kurt Caselli, Ricky Dietrich, Jimmy Jarrett and Nathan Kanney.

"Kurt called me a week and a half ago and said I was in the running, then Johnny (Campbell) called me the next day and said I was selected and that he would be fully supporting me," Weigand said. "This is going to be a lot of hard work, but a great experience and a great time. The team is solid. We got a podium last year, and we hope to do better than that. I'm the new guy, but hopefully I can ride smart. I have some good teachers in Kurt and Johnny.

"I'll be riding a Honda CRF250 in the E1 class. Right now it's a mad dash to get it ready. The bike has to be on the container in Portland in two weeks. As for setup, we're definitely going for reliability. The bike is going to be pretty much stock so it can last the entire six days without a ton of work. I'm just happy to be going. It's great to ride for your country at a major event like the ISDE."

The U.S. Junior Trophy Team fields four riders 23 years old or younger. Led by five-time ISDE veteran Team Captain David Kamo, the Junior Trophy Team also will include defending AMA/Rekluse National Enduro Champion Russell Bobbitt, Grand National Cross Country racer Cory Buttrick and WORCS racer Jamie Lanza.

Current plans call for Lanza to race the E1 class, which features 100cc to 125cc two-stroke and 175cc to 250cc four-stroke motorcycles; Bobbitt and Buttrick to race the E2 class, which features 175cc to 250cc two-stroke and 290cc to 450cc four-stroke motorcycles; and Kamo to ride the E3 class, which features 290cc to 500cc two-stroke and 475cc to 650cc four-stroke motorcycles.

The U.S. Women's Trophy Team finished second in Greece last year to the French team, a year after winning the Women's World Cup in Chile. The team will include veterans Maria Forsberg, Mandi Mastin and Lacy Jones.