There is no denying the fact that Italy have delivered throughout the ninety fifth running of the FIM International Six Days of Enduro (ISDE) and rightly taken their place at the top of the World Trophy team results. Despite the best efforts of Spain and their hard-charging team leader Josep Garcia (KTM), Italy, at home, have been both impressively fast and consistent.
So, are we looking at the start of an Italian ISDE renaissance? Needing to wind the clock back to 2007 when the ISDE visited Chile to find Italy’s last World Trophy team win, if they are victorious in 2021, could they remain as the nation to beat over the coming years?
In Andrea Verona (GASGAS) Italy have one of this year’s fastest outright riders. But more importantly a relatively young competitor. The same applies to Matteo Cavallo (TM). Both Verona and Cavallo have youth on their sides, as well as the needed ISDE experience. Speed, youth, and experience are the three ingredients every World Trophy team manager is looking for.
With older statesman Thomas Oldrati (Honda) and Davide Guarneri (Fantic) delivering exactly what was needed of them throughout the 2021 ISDE, the consistency from all riders has been key to their results.
But in Junior World Trophy team riders Lorenzo Macoritto (TM) and Matteo Pavoni (TM) Italy have additional youngsters capable of flexing their muscles in the World Trophy category. With Pavoni and Macoritto second and sixth overall respectively at the end of day five, Italy has a depth of young talent not seen for many years.
It definitely feels like it Italy’s time to shine.
