Troy Swettenam has crated up his tools, extra motorcycle parts and a pile of tires and shipped them off to Portugal for the 2009 International Six Days Enduro in Figueria da Foz Oct. 12-17.
This is the second time the Buckley resident has made the American Motorcyclist Association roster for the prestigious off-road racing event. In 2007 in Chile, Swettenam earned a silver medal in the 250cc, four-stroke class. He finished 36th out of 137 racers, the top third of the class. Recovering from knee surgery in 2008, he did not attempt to qualify for the Greece race, but returned to full form this season.
Six riders compete on the world trophy team for the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme’s coveted prize, four more are junior riders (23 years old or younger) and three others are assigned to the women’s team.
Swettenam is part of seven three-rider club teams from the United States participating. He races with Team Carter Engineering as the Northwest Club Team. He participated in a series of qualifying contests throughout the spring and summer before the American Motorcyclist Association made its selections in August.
The ISDE is the oldest continuously running form of world championship motorcycle racing. It started in 1913 in Carlisle, England. Riders endure six days of up to 200 miles per day, nearly eight hours, on the trail, but the rider is the sole individual allowed to complete the major mechanical maintenance to keep the bike running; others may only add air to the tires or fuel to the tank. The final day of competition is a 30-minute motocross.
His expectations are to finish higher than last time.
“I know what to expect now,” Swettenam said. So do family members, who will make the trip with him again and help out at check points. “I’d like to finish again as well as get a gold medal. I finished with a silver medal last time. I’d like to get a gold.”
Gold, silver and bronze medals are awarded on an individual level. The medals are typically awarded based on percentage of finishers, or relative to the best individual performance in the event within one of the three displacement classes. For the ISDE, gold medals were awarded to participants who finish within 10 percent of their class’ top competitor’s total elapsed time, silver medals awarded for those within 40 percent, and all remaining finishers earned bronze medals.
Trophies are awarded for the best three-rider club team.
Some riders ship their bikes to Portugal, but Swettenam has opted to rent a 250EXCF already equipped for the race. But, he did send plenty of gear and tires ahead.
Tires play a big role in the contest.
In addition to his regular physical training routine, Swettenam has been working on his repair skills. During the ISDE, only riders are allowed to work on the motorcycle.
“When I get in from riding 150 miles for seven and a half hours, they give me 15 minutes to work on the bike and then they put it in an impound facility, so it makes it super tricky,” Swettenam said. “I’ve been practicing changing tires and getting it done quickly and efficiently.”
To help facilitate the process, Swettenam runs with a foam tube insert in his tires that replaces an air tube.
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