International six-day trip

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Tank cap of an MZ with the indication of the Six Days victories

The International Six Days Enduro or Six Days ( International Six Days Enduro - ISDE until 1980 International Six Days Trial - ISDT ) is the most important motor sport event in the Enduro sport . The competition was the first of the international motorcycle federation Fédération Internationale des Club Motocyclistes , a forerunner of the FIM, announced event.

Since the Six Days are a team competition, they have officially been considered the Enduro World Championships for national teams since 1970. In addition to the national teams, club and works teams also take part and are rated separately. The best drivers are honored with medals.

history

In the early 20th century, the UK began providing reliability rides for motorcycles. So from 1903 the Six Days' Reliability Trial was carried out. The international motorcycle association Fédération Internationale des Clubs Motocyclistes (FICM), founded in 1904, endeavored to organize its own event. Since the regulations of the British event had proven themselves, the association decided in 1912 under the name International Six Days of Regularity to advertise its first own motorcycle sport event for the following year.

The first international six-day race was held from August 19 to 23, 1913 in Carlisle ( England ) as the "First International Touring Trial". The aim of the competition was to determine the "reliability of the motorcycles and the skills of the drivers" according to the tender . Two national teams (France and Great Britain) and 155 British individual drivers competed. Since the French team gave up early, the British team won.

The winners received a challenge prize (Trophy) donated by the British Motorsport Association. This disappeared in 1939 after the event in Salzburg and was awarded in 1949 by a silver cup from the time of King George III of England . replaced. That is why the victory in the six-day race is also called a trophy victory .

The First World War interrupted the continuation of the event the following year. It was not until 1920 that the next six-day trip could be made in France. Since then, the winning nation has had the right to defend the trophy in its own country. From 1939, a six-day trip was not allowed to take place twice in a row in the same country. These regulations have not been applied since 1970.

Since only teams with motorcycles manufactured in their own country were allowed to compete for the Trophy, the competition for the International Silver Vase was added in 1924 at the suggestion of the Dutch Motorcycle Association , where this obligation no longer existed. This trophy was also replaced by a silver trophy from the time of George II in 1949 because it was lost . This competition has been known as the Junior World Trophy since 1985 and an age limit of a maximum of 23 years has been introduced.

In 1939 the six-day trip took place in Salzburg. Because of the tense situation, the British team left on the fifth day of the evaluation. As a result, the evaluation of the event was canceled.

Up to the six-day trip in 1956, sideboards and three-wheeled vehicles were also permitted.

In 1964, an American team took part in the Six Days for the first time in Erfurt . This was also the first time that a US team took part in a motorsport event in a state in what was then the Eastern Bloc . The most prominent member of the team was actor and amateur motor sportsman Steve McQueen .

In 1980 the name was changed from International Six Days Trial (ISDT) to International Six Days Enduro (ISDE) in order to avoid confusion with trials . This was accompanied by some changes in the regulations. Only the best five drivers of the trophy team and the best three drivers of the junior trophy team were rated so that if one driver failed, all chances of victory were not lost.

From 1995 more fundamental changes in the regulations came into force, in particular a time evaluation instead of a point evaluation was introduced.

In 2007 the Women's World Trophy for the best women's team was introduced. Another change to the regulations was introduced in 2016. According to this, a trophy team consists of four drivers and a junior trophy team consists of three drivers. The deletion result was abolished. The possibility of a one-off restart has been abolished for the club teams and the women's teams. In addition, the previous racing jury was abolished. For every six-day trip there is now a "Race Direction", which consists of the respective chief scientist, the FIM race director and the FIM route inspector. Appeals against decisions of the Race Direction are dealt with by a committee made up of two FIM stewards and one national steward. The final decision-making body is then the FIM.

The 95th International Six-Day Ride was originally supposed to take place between August 31 and September 5, 2020, but was canceled on March 28, 2020 due to the massive effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy and by the FIM motorcycle association in coordination with the Federazione Motociclistica Italiana (FMI) and postponed to the following year.

Set of rules

The development of the Six Days is decisive for the whole development of the enduro sport. Rule changes were often first introduced at this event and then shaped the other events. The most important points of the regulations were that outside help was strictly forbidden and repairs to the motorcycle had to be done by the driver himself. The regulations have been changed many times in order to meet the sporting requirements and the wishes of the associations and the industry.

Ratings

Today the international six-day race is a pure team competition. Individual drivers can take part in the event, but only if a national motorsport association cannot set up a club team.

Different evaluations are carried out:

  • the FIM World Trophy
  • the FIM Junior World Trophy (formerly Silver Vase)
  • the FIM Women's World Trophy
  • the Club Team Award (for motorsport clubs from the FIM area)
  • the Manufacturer's Team Award (manufacturer evaluation)
  • the Watling Trophy (has been awarded by the jury for an exceptional achievement since 1962)

The length of the route on all competition days together is between 1200 and 1600 kilometers. An event may last a maximum of 7.5 hours a day. At least 250 drivers must be admitted to a race.

Originally, the drivers were given a specified quota of points (1000 or 300 points), but due to errors in individual stages, corresponding penalty points were deducted from this quota. Later, they only counted the penalty points instead of the total number of points. If a driver failed, the driver's entire point contingent was set to zero. In 1975 this scoring was replaced by a system of points in time.

For the FIM World Trophy , a team must consist of four drivers. In each of the three Enduro classes (E1: 100–125 cm³ two-stroke or 175–250 cm³ four-stroke, E2: 175-250 cm³ two-stroke or 290-450 cm³ four-stroke, E3: 290-500 cm³ two-stroke or 475-650 cm³ four-stroke) at least one motorcycle must be registered. The team that finishes with the most drivers wins. In the event of a tie, the lowest time or the lowest number of penalty times decides. Until 1994, the times driven were converted into points. Originally a team consisted of three drivers, in 1930 the number was increased to four, in 1938 to five and since 1956 to six. Since 1995, only five drivers have been rated (one result). In order to reduce the costs for the participating associations, it was decided that from 2016 a team will only consist of four drivers and there will be no cancellation result. The riders and the motorcycles had to come from the same nation. With the decline of motorcycle manufacturing in the 1950s and 1960s, this regulation had to be abandoned in 1970.

For the FIM Junior World Trophy , a team must consist of three drivers. The scoring takes place in the same way as the World Trophy. The motorcycles must be registered in at least two classes. Drivers must be a maximum of 23 years old on January 1st of the competition year. Originally, the rating , known as the “silver vase” , was intended for teams from nations without their own motorcycle production facilities. In order to differentiate it from the World Trophy, this trophy has been classified as the Junior World Championship since 1985. Until 1955 a team consisted of three men, after that of four drivers. As of 1995, only three drivers have been rated (one result). From 1975 only one team per nation was allowed to compete in this competition. In order to reduce the costs for the associations, the number of drivers was set back to three from 2016 without a cancellation result.

At the FIM Women's World Trophy , a team consists of two or three women. There are no specifications regarding the classes of motorcycles. A driver who has failed can start again once on the following day. The driver receives a three-hour penalty (2012).

All drivers in the national teams must wear a uniform national jersey during the event.

For the Club Team Award , a team consists of three drivers. However, they are not allowed to take part in any of the other ratings. A driver who has failed can start again once on the following day. The driver receives a three hour penalty (2012).

Only drivers of the World Trophy and / or Junior World Trophy count towards the Manufacturer's Team Award . Each driver can only be a member of one works team.

In addition to the award, the winning teams of the trophy ratings will receive the FIM gold medal, the second place the FIM silver medal and the third place the FIM bronze medal.

In addition, the drivers can receive gold, silver and bronze medals (souvenir medal): A gold medal is given to those who did not need more than 110% of the time like the best driver in their class. For a silver medal, the limit is 125% (2012). A bronze medal is given to those drivers who have taken part in the competition until the end.

In addition, the winners in the individual motorcycle classes and the overall winner will be honored.

Technical rules and procedures

Parc fermé at the 87th International Six-Day Race

As usual at the motorcycle championships, the motorcycles are subjected to a technical inspection before the start. Parts that cannot be exchanged are marked with a colored dot. The following components are marked: frame, wheel hubs, motor housing and the silencer. A missing marking leads to the disqualification of the driver and the team.

With a few exceptions, only the driver is permitted to carry out repairs and service work on the motorcycle. The driver can change unmarked parts on the motorcycle at any time during the competition. However, he can only obtain the corresponding spare parts and tools in the prescribed service zones. The help of service personnel is permitted when changing engine and transmission oil as well as the air filter. The use of electric and pneumatic tools is prohibited.

After the technical inspection of the motorcycles and between the individual days, the motorcycles must be parked in the parc fermé . Drivers are only allowed to enter it 15 minutes before the start. Working on the motorcycle is prohibited in the parc fermé.

There is a work area between the Parc Fermé and the start area. In this zone, drivers can carry out necessary work on the motorcycle before starting. Starting the motorcycle in this area is prohibited and is punished with a 5 minute penalty. Drivers can enter the work area ten minutes before their start time.

At the start, three drivers should start at the same time per minute. The organizer must ensure that the start and finish are not in the dark. The drivers have one minute from the start of the start time to cross a second line 20 m after the start line with the engine running. The motorcycle may only be started using a kick starter or another on-board starting device. If a driver exceeds these requirements, he will receive corresponding penalty times. A driver has a maximum of 15 minutes to start, otherwise he will be disqualified.

Refueling is allowed during the repair time in the pre-start phase and during the competition at the prescribed refueling points.

Tire changes are only permitted in the service zone at the last time control and during the morning service time. Hoses and compressed air are only available in the service zones.

The motorcycles must comply with the general road traffic rules applicable in the respective countries. In the country of the event, the existing road traffic rules when driving on public roads must be observed.

During the event, the drivers must cover the route in a given time. Appropriate time controls are carried out for control purposes. There are time controls at the start and finish of each day's stage. There are also further controls at intervals of between five and 35 kilometers. The time required between two time controls must be chosen so that the average speed is not higher than 50 km / h. The motorcycles will be equipped with a transponder for time evaluation. In addition, the drivers receive a rating card in which the respective times at the checkpoints are entered. If a driver misses a time control or is 60 minutes late, he will be excluded from the competition. If a driver is one minute too late or too early at the time control, he receives a time penalty of one minute.

The last time control is at the finish before entering the Parc Fermé. In front of it there is a service zone with a pre-target time control. Between these two time checks, the driver has 15 minutes of maintenance time before he has to park his motorcycle in the Parc Fermé.

Furthermore, transit controls are carried out during which the driver's rating card is stamped. If a driver misses control or does not stop, he will be disqualified.

On the first five days of the competition, at least five tests (special tests) per day must be reported. The test must have a minimum length of three kilometers. The tests may not be used beforehand. Viewing on foot is permitted. The average speed in the test must not exceed 50 km / h.

A final test must be carried out on the last day . The last evaluation day can also consist of just this test. The test should be carried out in the form of a motocross test. It is also possible to host this test as a road race, race on a racetrack, or as a supermoto . The route must be a circular course that has to be traveled five to ten times. The total length must be between 10 and 18 kilometers.

In this test, all riders of a rating and motorcycle class start simultaneously.

Winners list

statistics

country Discharge (1) Victories
World Trophy Silver vase Junior World Trophy Women's Trophy
Argentina 1
Australia 2 2 3 6th
Belgium 1
Brazil 1
Chile 2
German Empire 4 (2) 3 2
German Democratic Republic 1 7th 4th 2
Germany 7th 6th 4th
United Kingdom - England 5
Finland 2 8th 3
France 6th 9 1 6th 5
Greece 1
United Kingdom - Isle of Man 3
Italy 10 14th 6th 7th
Mexico 1
New Zealand 1
Netherlands 2 1 5 1
Norway 1
Austria 3 1
Poland 4th 1
Portugal 3
Sweden 4th 5 1 4th
Switzerland 2 3
Slovakia 2
Spain 4th 6th
Czech Republic 1
Czechoslovakia 10 15th 17th
United States 2 2 1 3 2
United Kingdom 16 11
United Kingdom - Wales 8th
(1) without the “Europe trip” of 1929
(2) including the canceled trip from 1939

The most frequent venue was the Welsh Llandrindod Wells with seven events between 1933 and 1961. This is followed by Garmisch-Partenkirchen with five trips between 1934 and 1969, Gottwaldov / Zlín with four events (1947-1959) and Považská Bystrica also with four events between 1977 and 2005 So far, three trips have taken place on the Isle of Man (1965–1975) and in Špindlerův Mlýn (1957–1972). Assen, Bad Aussee, Geneva, Grenoble, Jelenia Góra, Meran, San Pellegrino Terme were the starting and finishing points twice.

literature

  • Mick Walker, Rob Carrick: International Six-day Trials . Olympics of Motorcycling. Osprey Publishing, London 1992, ISBN 1-85532-266-8 ( Motorcycles Racing ).
  • Thomas Fritsch: Six Days . Part 2. In: Speed ​​- your motorcycle magazine . March 2012, p. 10-14 .
  • Thomas Fritsch: Six Days . 3rd part. In: Speed ​​- your motorcycle magazine . April 2012, p. 11-17 .
  • Leo Keller: Six days to fame . In: Classic motorcycle - terrain sport special . No. 2 . MO Medien Verlag GmbH, Stuttgart 2012, p. 10-29 .
  • Steffen Ottinger: International six-day race 2012 . The story since 1913. HB-Werbung und Verlag GmbH & Co. KG, Chemnitz 2012, ISBN 978-3-00-039566-6 .
  • Steffen Ottinger: International six-day trip - ISDE - 1987. Jelenia Gora / Poland . Photo journal of a great German motorsport success. HB-Werbung und Verlag GmbH & Co. KG, Chemnitz 2011.

Web links

Commons : International Six Day Trip  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ baboons.de: Sixdays without string result
  2. ↑ FIM ISDE & FIM VINTAGE TROPHY POSTPONED IN 2021. Accessed April 1, 2020.