Details are surfacing surrounding the cancellation of the sixth day of competition at this year’s 85th Edition of the ISDE in Morelia, Mexico. According to local reports, suspected members of Mexico’s La Familia drug gang launched violent reprisals following the arrest of two local leaders of the cartel in Morelia.
A local newspaper issued the following report: “Shortly after authorities announced the capture of two members of the La Familia cartel, men suspected of belonging to the cartel unleashed a wave of violence in Morelia, setting fire to cars and buildings, and blocking highways and major thoroughfares around the city. Local media reported that gang members also fired at police around the city and set fire to gas stations by throwing molotov cocktails.”
After the attacks, US Team members reported seeing fires burning in the distance from the team hotel on Friday evening.
Ignacio Verneda, Motorcycling Sports Director, and President of the 2010 ISDE Organizing Committee Luis Otero made the following statements about their decision.
“This is 100% the correct decision, as in all cases the security and safety of everyone involved with the event is the most important consideration,” said Verneda. “Although the risk was only very minimal, we prefer not to take any risk at all. In all cases the decision has been well accepted by the riders, the teams and all those associated with the event.
“We would like to stress that there has been no threat to anyone involved here with the ISDE competition. It is that the amount of security we requested for the final motocross, which was to be located outside the Morelia area, is no longer available as their priorities are now to concentrate on protecting the city.”
“The organizing committee is extremely sad about this situation, as so far we have enjoyed a fantastic competition. From the start our philosophy was to have fun and for five days everyone has had incredible fun. However due to circumstances beyond our control we have now taken the difficult, but correct decision to cancel the final day,” added Otero. “Our main goal has been the security of the riders in the hills, but now the priority is for the authorities to provide security for all the people in the region.”
With results drawn from the five days of competition, KTM’s Johnny Aubert was the overall winner and the clear victor in the E2 class, making a major contribution to France retaining the prestigious World Trophy together with his teammates Nicolas Deparrois, Sebastien Guillaume, Antoine Meo, Rodrig Thain and Christophe Nambotin.
The US World Trophy Team (Kurt Caselli, Destry Abbott, Jimmy Jarrett, Nathan Woods, Timmy Weigand and Mike Brown) finished the event in fourth, behind France, Italy and FInland.
In the Junior Trophy division, the US squad (Nick Fahringer, Ian Blythe, Taylor Roberts and Cory Buttrick, who was injured on the opening day) was third behind Spain and Sweden.
Meanwhile, U.S. Women’s Team of Nicole Bradford, Amanda Mastin and Kerri Swartz finished second behind France and ahead of Sweden.
E1 – Final
1, Antoine Meo, France, Husqvarna
2, Eero Remes, Finland, KTM
3, Alex Salvini, Italy, Husqvarna
4, Kurt Caselli, USA KTM
5, Jari Mattila, Finland, Honda
6, Mike Brown, USA, KTM
7, Ian Blythe, USA, KTM
E2 – Final
1, Johnny Aubert, France, KTM
2, Juha Salminen Finland, Husqvarna
3, Thomas Oldrati, Italy, KTM
4, Manual Monni, Italy, Yamaha
5, Rodrig Thain, France, TM
6, Lorenzo Santolino
E3 – Final
1, Sebastien Guillaume, France, Husqvarna
2, Oriol Mena, Spain, Husaberg
3, Christoph Nambotin Gas-Gas
4, Simone Albergoni, Italy, KTM
5. Alessandro Botturi, Italy, Husaberg
6, Alessandro Belometti, Italy, KTM
7, Homero Diaz, Mexico, KTM
