What is the ISDE

The ISDE is the true-test of man and machine. The event is regarded as the Olympics of off-road motorcycle racing.

Run over six days, as its name suggests, competitors will cover 1200-1600km of tough terrain throughout the event, spending five to six hours a day in the saddle.

There are three courses, totalling about 250km each. Each rider will ride each course twice.

The rider is given a set to time to reach checkpoints located about 50km apart. If they arrive early or late they are penalised.

At each checkpoint there is a timed special stage.

The riders and teams with the lowest aggregate of special stage times and time penalties win the event.

Click here to read about the Serres, Greece, ISDE 2008 course