The countdown has be gone for the ISDE in Greece on September 1-6. This year we predict a very close race for the main "Trophy", the Stanley Cup for nations. Italy is the defending champion and will be again the team to beat. The Italians take the "sei giorno" very seriously and have the best support crew of them all. Nothing is new for those guys, it has a very oiled machine that will not put the wrong gas in a motorcycle, if you know what I mean. Their strongest riders are Belometti and Albergoni with a nice back up from Micheluz, Dini and Botturi. Mossini is the least fastest but still a true professional.  Italy shows very little weakness and is rock solid.

Finland should win be the favorite if not for the injury of Aro and Reemes and the not competing of Ahola. Still Finland has Salminen, Tarkkala and winner of last years E1 class Mattila. Mattila seems to really like the 6 days and always steps ups his game when he rides for Team Finland and when he needs a ride for next year. Salonen will field a new 2009 Husaberg and is a solid member. The weakness lies with Tiainen and Nikander. Tiainen is a 7 time world champion but has not compete in a ISDE since 2003. He still competes on a regular bases in Spain or Finland and gets his seat time by being involved with team BMW. Nikander has not competed much outside Finland and will have to show he is the new and up coming star for Finland.  

The USA has stated it before that they will be competitive at the 6 days (2003 Brazil with the "GNCC team"), but this year they are capable of matching their 3rd place at the 1996 ISDE in Finland. Caselli and Dietrich have shown that they can run with the best and are the back bone of this team. If they don't finish within 20-30 seconds of their class winners, team USA will not be in the top 3-4. Newcomer Woods is fast on a motocross/WORCS course but can he transfer he speed to the special test in Greece? I think he can. Caselli and Dietrich have shown that the WORCS riders are good ISDE racers and therefore Woods should be able to do well. The three remaining rider Jarrett, Abbott and Kanney will have to stay within 1 minute of their class winners to have USA be in the top 3. Some question marks with Team USA but they could be the surprise of Greece (or they could be the disappointment of Greece). Time will tell. Follow the ISDE live on www.isde2008-live.gr

France is another top country that could potential win the whole thing. They will miss Aubert (Overall winner of last year) who is not taking any chance of becoming the WEC E2 world champion this year and decided to skip the ISDE. This has happened a few time when the ISDE is before the last WEC round. France has still two aces with Guillaume and Nambotin, both E3 riders which may hurt them a little at the end. They will fight for the E3 win with Tarkkala and Merriman as their main rivals. Thain, Curvalle, Deparrois and Gauthier are all good riders but will not go for a the class win and 2 of the them have to stay within a minute on each day to have a shot at a win.

Spain has a good shot for a podium with Cervantes and Guerrero, both fast WEC competitors. Galindo and Mena have to ride better then they did this year to give Spain a good chance. Victor Guerrero and Farres are the weak links for Spain. Farres used to ride WEC events but has not done them in a few year.

Australia is always a big question mark on where they will finish. For sure Merriman will do well knowing that the special test will be less technical then the WEC which suites the Aprilia rider better. Merriman has shown that on the less technical tests, like the Italian Enduro Championship, he can compete with the best. He for sure has a shot at an E3 class win and can go into history books with a record 6 class wins at the ISDE. He is currently tied with French icon Peterhansel. The rest of the team is solid with Kearney x2, Roberts, Hollis and Hutton. A good group of riders that may be miss European experience (except Roberts) and the confidence they can finish in the top 4-5. For sure, the Australian enduro competition is healthy and competitive, which will results in good finish for the Aussies.

Sweden is missing a top rider that can win a class. Ljunggren will be close but most likely not be able to win one. Eriksson and Carlsson are both good but will not stay within the much needed 30 seconds limit for each day. Gustafsson, Wicksell and Georgsson are all sold riders but miss the speed to get Sweden close the podium.

The Netherlands is getting better with their best finish in recent year at the 2007 ISDE in 4th. They had some luck that others faster countries lost 2 riders and move up the ranking in Chile. Now that the ISDE will not be in the sand, which they really like, they have to step up their game to get close to last years results. Plekkenpol is the most experience rider of the team competing in his second full WEC season. He will do better in Greece then the WEC because the WEC races are to technical for him. Vogels, Hubers, van den Broek, Advokaat and Wassink have good speed too, but probably loose around a minute to a minute and a half each day. They miss a class winner or a rider that can stay within 15-20 seconds every day to bring them close to the top 5.

Other top 10 counties are Great Britain, Portugal and Germany.

See you in Greece, Erik Nijkamp

Off Road Champions prediction: