Posted: Tuesday, 12th May, 2009 : 1:19 PM - - 2,486 Reads

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Current Australian Women’s Enduro Champion, Alison Parker, earned her place on the team after what has so far been a stellar career aboard Yamaha WR250F machines since her national race debut at the 2002 A4DE, which has included two previous ISDEs.

“The ISDE is an amazing spectacle, with over 30 nations embarking on the ultimate enduro competition. The International Motorcycling Federation (FIM) recognised the value in offering a women’s competition after a strong turn out of women at the 2006 ISDE in New Zealand” stated Parker, referring to the Women’s World Trophy contest in which Australia will challenge.

“I am so grateful to Motorcycling Australia and Wellard for helping Australia send a women’s team, and of course Jacqui and I could not be in the position we are in without the fantastic backing of Yamaha and AWED sponsors.”

Third place in the A4DE, along with similar results in the opening rounds of the Australian Off Road Championships (AORC) assisted Jacqui Jones’ selection on the national team.

“I am absolutely thrilled to be chosen for this team. I realise the ISDE is an extremely tough event, and my plan is to train hard so that I can finish the race” explained Jones “and if we all reach that finish line, who knows, we may even win it”.

“I’m so excited to have the opportunity to go to another country and race at the same time, which is awesome,” 20-year-old Jemma Wilson said of her selction.

“Two years ago I never would have thought I’d be going to the ISDE, being a part of it is amazing.

“I’ve only ever been to New Zealand, so getting to go overseas and ride for my country is so unreal... I got my first email yesterday from team management and while I read it it started to sink in that I’m actually going, I’m so stoked.”

Wilson said the event was going to be “very tough” and her main goal would be to finish.

“Hopefully all us girls finish and do well so we can go again next year,” she said.

“From what I’ve heard from people who have gone, if all us girls finish and don’t lose any trail time, there’s a good chance we could win the championship as a team. Consistency is key at an ISDE.

“It’s also good that Alison has done a couple of them, so we’ll have someone with experience on the team. She can tell us what’s going to happen and how it’s going to go.

“So over the next few months in the lead-up I’m going to try and train as much as possible, ride as much as possible, do as many races, including the rest of the Yamaha Australian Off-Road Championship rounds as I would like to win the Women’s Australian Championship this year.

“Alison, Jacqui, Lana and I are going to put in 110 percent, being it’s the first year a team is going we want everyone to be impressed with our effort.”

Lana Stiller (Yamaha) has been named as team reserve.

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