When it comes to the FIM International Six Days of Enduro (ISDE) Italy are one of the event’s true superpowers. Always present, well supported by both federation and industry, Italy’s passion for the ISDE has always burned bright.
Over the years Italy have enjoyed their fair share of successes, too. Most recently, it was Italy’s Junior World Trophy team that last stood atop of the ISDE podium, in Chile in 2018, ten years after their junior squad last topped the class at the 2008 ISDE in Greece.
The 2005 ISDE in Slovakia – a tough, muddy event – was a particularly successful one for the Italians as they topped both the World Trophy and Junior World Trophy classes, securing a hard-fought double.
But it was back in 1997, close to a quarter of a century ago now, that Italy produced what was arguably one of their best-ever ISDE performances. Held in Lumezzane, Brecia in the northern heartland of Italian enduro country, the 72nd running of the event took place in the height of summer. With countless enduro heavy hitters within their World Trophy team, and a hugely passionate home crowd, the level of expectation and want for a home win was sky high.
And win they did. In the World Trophy category, in the Junior World Trophy class, in the Club team competition, and top it all off, in the Manufacturers class too. At the end of six incredible days of competition, and having dominated their home ISDE, Italy were the undisputed champions.
In the World Trophy team competition the shear strength of talent within the Italian squad was too much for any other nation. Consisting of Stefano Passeri (KTM), Fausto Scovolo (Yamaha), Jarno Boano (Honda), Mario Rinaldi (KTM), Fabio Farioli (KTM), and Giovanni Sala (KTM), the Italian ‘dream team’ delivered exactly what had been expected of them and triumphed ahead of Finland and France.
With Passeri topping the 125cc class, Giovanni Sala the 250cc two-stroke and overall categories, and with Mario Rinaldi winning the 400cc four-stroke class Italy stamped their mark on the World Trophy competition in no uncertain terms, getting all six riders to the finish. Things were not quite as straight forward in the World Junior Trophy competition.
Despite ultimately topping the junior class, on day two Giovanni Genini crashed and broke his right shoulder, reducing the team to three riders and heaping the pressure onto the young shoulders of Ivan Boano, Alessio Paoli and Pablo Peli. With the team’s one throw away score used by way of Genini’s retirement, all riders knew they needed to get to the finish of each day to keep their hopes of victory alive. They did and took the World Junior Trophy class win ahead of France and Sweden.
The 1997 ISDE in Lumezzane was a classic – a true Italian enduro that served up an unforgettable feast of high-drama and close racing. And, come the end of a memorable week of competition, it was Italy that had unquestionably showed the enduro world that they were the nation to beat.
Can the Italians repeat history with another set of famous victories at the 95th edition of the ISDE on home soil next week?
