The 94th FIM International Six Days Enduro (ISDE) officially welcomed riders and fans in the Portuguese town of Portimao on Saturday. The traditional parade saw five hundred plus riders from twenty six nations make their way along the Portimao ocean front with each presenting themselves on the stage among a sea of song and flag waving to appreciative Portuguese fans as night fell.
With just one more day to wait ahead of Monday’s action, the ceremony is also traditionally the point at which the coveted FIM ISDE Trophies are handed back by the previous winners.
Victorious in Chile twelve months ago, Australia’s World Trophy team headlined the show alongside their FIM Women’s World Trophy Team with the Italian’s completing the line-up returning the FIM Junior World Trophy.
FIM President, Jorge Viegas was naturally proud to see the 2019 ISDE officially opened in his home country. “We welcome riders from nations around the World to Portugal and the 94th edition of this historic event. We hope all riders have a very good race and now the Six Days are open!”
As a foot note the ceremony also paid tribute to one of the oldest serving members of the Enduro community, Wolfgang Butzer. The seventy-nine-year-old – who will celebrate his eightieth birthday on day five here in Portugal – can count this as his fiftieth ISDE and still, as ever, providing the tyre service for Metzeler in the paddock.
