Some of the busiest people during, and especially prior, to any FIM International Six Days of Enduro are the FIM technical staff – those responsible for the checking and marking of all competitor bikes before they are placed in the event’s parc ferme. With many hundreds of bikes, and riders, passing through technical control, it is a busy three-day process that is essential to the safe and fair running of the event.
“For technical inspection we have three days,” explains Peter Radoczi, FIM ISDE Technical Director. “Technical inspection starts with local, home riders on the Thursday before the event starts, and ends with overseas riders such as the USA, Chile, Mexico, etc, on the Saturday. We do this because overseas nations need a little longer than local riders to get their bikes set-up and ready from the event. Sometimes, we also do inspections on the Sunday before the race starts, but only if one of the shipping containers carrying a nations’ bikes arrives very late. But this will be approved by Race Direction. We always try to find a solution for riders to prepare their bikes correctly.”
When it comes to enduro, and specifically the ISDE, five key areas of each motorcycle are marked pre-event. “Enduro is a very specific discipline for checking and marking,” explains Peter. “Our rules say that the enduro bike has to be marked in five places – the main frame, front wheel (hub), rear wheel (hub), silencer, and the crankcase. For the marking we use special colour, tamperproof stickers, and seals. We also check tyres, because for enduro homologated tyres are compulsory. We do not forget to check the front light, rear light and brake light.”
With enduro being a test of rider and machine, each rider must arrive at the finish of each day of the ISDE with all marked parts attached to his bike. Failure to do so can lead to disqualification. Stopping riders simply replacing broken parts with new ones, fitting louder silencers that offer more power, or swapping a wheel for one with a new tyre already fitted, marked parts ensure the fair running of any ISDE. A bike, and it’s marked parts, must go the distance, just like its rider.
In addition to marking each motorcycle, technical staff also check rider’s helmets and body armour, to ensure rider safety. They also check each bike for sound.
“The sound test is very important,” adds Peter. “Each bike must be under a certain decibel limit and must remain like that throughout the competition. The silencer can be changed if damaged, re-tested and marked again. We can check any motorcycle for sound at any time during the event. Keeping sound levels down is important for everyone, that is why at the end of each day riders have thirty minutes to repair or replace their silencer, if they need it.”
“Working at the ISDE is a busy time for the FIM technical staff, especially before the race starts. But it’s a great atmosphere – riders really look forward to the event each year. We’ll have two stewards for the sound tests, and four stewards for inspections, two stewards for each of the two lines of bikes. Then, there’s always a large number of helpers from the organising motor club.”
