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The Olympics of off-road racing Medford motorcycle riders will compete in prestigious six-day race in France By KEVIN GOFF In only a few years of serious riding, Jeremy Puma and Derek Steahly have reached the pinnacle of motorcycle racing. Puma, 22, didn't start racing until 1997, and his 19-year-old cousin, Steahly, is actually the more experienced one. The two, who both race for the Medford Motorcycle Riders Association, will travel to Brive, France, to compete in the International Six Days Enduro. Steahly and Puma will begin to prepare their bikes on Aug. 23, then following the six-day event, come back on Sept. 6, five days after racing concludes. The ISDE is considered the Olympics of off-road racing and is held every year in a different country. "It's the first time I've been in an event like this," says Puma, who graduated from South Medford High in 1998. "I'll just try and do as good as I can and see what happens." "It's something I've wanted to do since I started racing," adds Steahly. "I'll just give it a shot." Steahly and Puma ventured to Idaho for one of two qualifiers - the other was held in Ohio - and after the two-day enduro, found themselves part of the 40-person field that will make up the USA Team. In France, 600 riders from throughout the world will ride approximately 150 miles each day for six straight days at the ISDE. They must maintain a difficult time schedule to arrive at checkpoints without losing any points. Only the riders can work on the bikes, which are impounded at the end of each day, leaving only a few minutes to make adjustments. There are also several short timed races each day which add to the riders' score. All riders who finish within one hour of their schedule receive a medal. Gold medals are awarded to the top six finishers from each country, while silver and bronze will be given to second and third-place finishers from each country. The six best riders from each country are selected to the World Trophy Team in the final day of the race. Those riders are considered the best in the world. "This race has always been a goal," says Puma. "I did the qualifier just to see how I'd do. I didn't even think I'd qualify." Steahly remains realistic about what this trip is about. "They say your first time is always a learning experience," says the 2000 South Medford High graduate. "I'm not expecting to win the thing, but I'm hoping to do as good as I can. "But there are a lot of fast racers in Europe, so it'll be tough." It was tough enough just getting their bikes packed up and moved. Puma and Steahly had to prepare their KTM 250 bikes a month in advance, then crate them and drive to Oakland, Calif., with less than a week's notice. The bikes were then shipped to France. Without their racing bikes, the two continue to find other ways to stay in racing shape. "We usually practice together," says Steahly. "Since we don't have our bikes anymore, we have been riding our mountain bikes a lot." Packing woes and travel arrangements aside, both Puma and Steahly also had to foot the bill for their entire trip. "I pretty much had to save the money myself," says Puma. "Mostly, I borrowed from my dad. "I just went over $3,800 and that's not including all the stuff I had to do to my bike. I think in all, I figured I'd be spending about $5,000." With the Aug. 21 departure date quickly approaching, Steahly and Puma can almost taste the baguettes and brie. "I'm really looking forward to it," says Steahly. "I was a little nervous at first, but as it gets closer for us to be there, then I'm just more excited." Reach reporter Kevin Goff at 776-4483 or e-mail [email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.