After yesterday's amazing start that saw the best national and international interpreters of Regularity get out there, the event reserved for vintage motorcycles offered another day to be framed. 382 starters of today's race; introduced by the speakers Lorenzo Graziotti and Martina Riboni, the multi-champion Stephane Peterhansel on Yamaha 250 and the Italians Tullio Pellegrinelli on KTM 350 (C7) and Enrico Tortoli on KTM 250 (A5) opened the dances from the beautiful “Spiaggia delle ghiaie”. From 9 am, the starting order provided at the start, following the overall classification of the previous day, the Trophy drivers, followed by the pilots of the Vaso and, finally, by those individually registered.
Among the members of the 8 participating national teams (Germany, Austria, France, Spain, Switzerland, Poland, Finland and Italy), the Finnish Veli-Matti Makinen and the Italian Giorgio Grasso were forced to retire, just when the three spearheads of the Maglia Azzurra were playing a leading role, all spinning at the same pace. The team well headed by the team manager, Francesco Mazzoleni, experienced Grasso's retirement with sorrow and regret, especially because he was aware that he could do well in this first edition of the FIM Enduro Vintage Trophy.
Yesterday's undisputed star, Matteo Rubin (KTM 250, category C6) started close to the drivers lined up by the national federations and ended today's test in fifth place; after yesterday's place of honor. Stephane Peterhansel was the fastest rider of the day, putting behind the bearer of Scuderia Fulvio Norelli The French driver Nicolas Paganon (Husqvarna 250, C6), Maurizio Lenzi (Ancillotti 250, X3), Paolo Pellegrini (KTM 250, C6), Ivo Zanatta (Puch Frigerio 250, C6) and Enrico Tortoli (KTM 250, A5) were confirmed in the top tenth time.
Under the direction of the race of Paolo Buratti, with the two track inspectors Maurizio Micheluz (of the International Motorcycling Federation) and Stefano Passeri (of the Italian Motorcycle Federation), the riders in tusle admired the panoramic views offered by the Island of Elba before diving headlong into the conquest of their respective category; today's Special Stages, namely
the 'Salicastro' Enduro Test, the 'Buraccio' Cross Test and the Enduro Test 'Elvetelba', put a strain on the protagonists of the FIM Enduro Vintage Trophy, veterans from the first day of the race and thanks to the longest off-road routes faced before competing in the Special Stage. The final acceleration along Viale Zambelli, in Portoferraio, aroused the enthusiasm and appreciation of the public who flocked to admire the show.
The Trophy remains firmly in the hands of the French team with the riders Laurent Charbonnel (KTM 400, A5), Stephane Peterhansel (Yamaha 250, C6) and Thierry Viardot (SWM 250, C6), as well as Vaso sees team A of the Moto Club Pantera confirmed at the lead, The Germany 1 team formed by the drivers Jens Oestreich (Maico 250, A5), Andreas Mosert (Kramer 250, C6) and Manuel Rueger (Kramer 400, C7) climbs in the standings, who from 52nd place have stood in fourth place.
I conclude with a touch of color. After the retirement of Pierluigi Rottigni and Attilio Petrogalli, two of the four 'Silver Boys' who returned riding the Island of Elba to honor the victory they achieved in the Silver Vase at the Six Days of the Isle of Man in 1975, Gualtiero Brissoni and Pietro Gagni remained in the race: all four were followed, with the same attention, by the then FMI Enduro technician, Franco Bartocci. Present at the FIM Enduro Vintage Trophy with his boys of the time, Franco has kept the habit of writing the travel times of his riders on the palm of his hand. Today as then... nothing has changed: same passion, same dedication.
Another touch of color. Today's briefing was held by Maurizio Micheluz alone, because Stefano Passeri was busy on the race field of the final round of Cross: to overcome the dust problem that could manifest tomorrow, he sat on board the barrel, next to the driver, to verify the appropriate watering of the playing field. What to say... when work is a great passion.
Daniela Confalonieri