Team Blogs
Chris's Blog
Well, here we are again, 2011 and another ISDE – this time in Europe! Finland will be my third ISDE, having ridden Taupo in 2006 and Mexico last year. The good news though is that I will have a week to acclimatise to Finland, unlike in 2010 in Mexico where I had one day!
I’ve never been to Europe before either, so this will not only be an awesome riding experience, but a special life experience as well. I don’t know a lot about Finland but I have been cluing myself up with some short phrases that will hopefully help us get around a little easier. I just hope I don’t miss pronounce words and ask if someone is pregnant!
In preparation for the terrain I have been doing quite a bit of sand riding as there is meant to be some soft terrain out there, mixed in with rocks. I had plenty of rock training when I raced the 24 Hour Enduro.
Another up is that I’m riding a YZ450F this year, a bike I’m much more suited to over the little 250. The fuel injection will also play a huge part to with the bike always running crisp and responsive. I didn’t have much time to get excited for Mexico last year, but I’m literally finding it hard to sleep as I want to be in Finland now! Not long to go. Less than two weeks and I’ll be in the air heading towards Kotka! Then it’s GO TIME!
Wellard rocks!
Chris
Karl's Blog
As a Kiwi lad it's not often we get to travel to the other side of the world and do what we enjoy doing the most, racing motorbikes.
The 2011 ISDE has been on my mind since I literally got off the bike on the final day in Mexico last year and having the privilege to race this event has given me more than enough motivation to work as hard as I can to be in the best shape, the fastest speed and in the right mind set to compete in Finland.
The lead up to the ISDE has been good for me. Everything has been aligning in the right spots. For me, it is all about the build up and by the time we arrive in Finland all the hard work will be done and all we have to do is enjoy the company of the team and have fun while racing and I believe that the team will shine like we did in Mexico.
Cheers,
KP
Adrian's Blog
Hi everyone, I'm Adrian Smith back as part of the Wellard Yamaha NZ team for 2011 set for Finland early August. Wellard have decided that a once in a life time trip can come round twice. Been training hard and hoping to better Mexico's results. I'm really excited to be a part of this top team again
Get on this site and support us as we need your support to keep us pushing on. Feel free to ask any questions and we will answer them.
Regards,
Adrian Smith
Adam's Blog
Once again I've been named as a member of the Wellard Yamaha New Zealand ISDE Team with the role of being a travelling reserve rider, this is a role I'm use to as last year after being selected as a rider I was injured just before the Mexico ISDE and had to be replaced by the reserve, luckily I still got to go and be part of the support crew.
Though injured, I totally enjoyed last year’s event and I'm looking forward to another great trip with a good team of people.
The ISDE is an awesome event and Finland will be new to me so it should be fun. I can’t thank these people and companies enough for the opportunity: Wellard, Yamaha, Mauro Balzarini (Director) and Peter Strickland (Team Manager).
Adam
Quinten's Blog
It's hard to believe it's almost ISDE time again! It's just under a year ago that we were at the ISDE in Mexico. After the event we were all talking and joking about how good it would be if we could all go to Finland this year. I had such a great experience last year and the team achieved such great results, I'm glad we're getting the opportunity to do it all again this year.
Quinten