The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) has announced that rugged off-road gear manufacturer KLIM will support Team USA’s bid to tackle the 2010 International Six Days Enduro (ISDE). The 85th annual ISDE will take place from 1 to 6 November in Morelia, Michoacan, Mexico. The world’s best off-road racers will gather there and compete for a very hard-earned victory over the challenging terrain, the elements and fierce competitors for international bragging rights as the best off-road team on Earth.

The Manx- born rider was in Mattighofen, Austria at KTM's headquarters this week to put his signature on the new contract, team officials have confirmed.

There was a time in recent motorcycling history when it seemed that 2-stroke motorcycles were a dying breed.  Growing international environmental regulations seemed destined to effectively squeeze the smoky, noisy (but incredibly fun and powerful) engines out of existence.  It was a sad revelation for those of us who cut our teeth on the 2-strokes of the 70s and 80s.

Congratulations to Ladies Cup winner Annie Seel for finishing the 2010 Dakar Rally at 45th position overall, placing her first among the women competitors. But Annie Seel was not the only woman rider to finish Dakar. For “Dirtgirl” Tina Meier, 2010 marked her first Dakar Rally finish, coming in at 85th overall.

Completing the rally is all the more remarkable considering Tina’s challenge toward the end of stage 3 (La Rioja – Fiambala). Conditions that day included crusty dunes and “fesh fesh” – a powder-like sand that requires exceptional technical skill. Toward the end of the stage, Tina’s Yamaha failed. Rather than drop out, she hopped on a spectator’s horse and rode to the bivouac where officials permitted her to return to her bike with needed parts and her mechanic, as long as the mechanic did not touch the bike. Meier was walked through the needed repairs then traded the horse for her Yamaha and finished the stage.

Participants come from all over the world to take part in the Dakar Rally, a 17-day event that covers approximately 5600 miles (9000 kilometers). 2010 was the second year the rally took place in South America. Starting and finishing in Buenos Aires, the highlight of the 9000 kilometer (5600 miles) race is the Atacama Desert. The terrain is challenging, visually breathtaking and a rally enthusiast's dream.

For many participants, the goal is simply to finish -- it's that tough.  Way to go, Tina!

Photo courtesy of Courtesy Annie Seel

Annie Seel has become one of Sweden’s most famous motorcycle riders. Making a name for herself in the rugged sport of off-road racing, she has taken on many challenging races in her career to include motocross races, desert rallies and the infamous Dakar Rally.

Seel began riding motorcycles in 1984 and has never stopped. She’s raced in rallies all over the world including Baja, Paris, Australia, Argentina, Chile and Dubai to name a few. This year, Annie returned to South America racing in the 2010 Dakar Rally.

She says being back in South America is a good experience.

“Being in Argentina is fantastic, the crowd here really cheers you on, and today I found 'pack' standing by the side of the road with a big Swedish flag saying ‘Go Annie’ - what a great surprise!”

Though Annie is a veteran endurance rider, she says Stage 1 of the Dakar presented a few challenges but finding her rhythm took very little time.

“The stage was very technical in the middle, slippery and also stones to consider,” she explained. “The dust is always annoying and we sure had some of that today. But no problems, I just passed it, and frankly - it was a great day on the special.

"The driving was really smooth, I was calm and I never felt any pressure, not even in the clouds of dust, waiting to pass some of the slower riders. I simply found my pace and went with the flow!”

Going with the flow is something Annie seems to do whenever she competes rarely letting what most would consider a setback, keep her from her goals. Last year Seel took on and completed in the Dakar Rally with a 76th-place finish and a handful of minor injuries. In 2002, she broke some bones in her right hand on the fifth day of the Dakar but finished with her hand taped around the throttle because, she says, "The pain disappears when you cross a certain limit."

This year, Annie finds herself facing similar circumstances with a hand injury in Stage 3.

“I fell down a few times, which was okay, but then, when passing a ravine I got caught, fell again and realized I hurt my thumb. So trying to go fast, but not being able to do so, holding on to the handle bar wasn’t all that great. As of now I’ve got it taped, and tomorrow we’ll see how it works, the doctor said it was a stretched out ligament.

Photo courtesy of Maindru Photo

Seel is riding a KTM 525 “Super Rocket” built by fellow Swede Magnus Arnalid. The team she is riding with is Meca'System who is sponsoring a large contingent of riders: 10 motorcyclists and four on quads. It is, she says, “A very professional team I trust, and we will in fact be the biggest team represented in the Dakar with 10.”

By the 7th Stage Seel’s injury seems to have subsided giving her an opportunity to appreciate the surroundings. But the Dakar is the Dakar and there is never a shortage of obstacles.

“The stage and the scenery was beautiful and wild. These high dunes we were riding parts of the stretch was incredible,” she says. “The sand has a thin layer on top, like a crust, and underneath it’s the really, really soft sand. A lot of the riding was done in fesh-fesh (fine, powdery sand), and in some really heavy sand.

“The first part I was riding and feeling that it was moving on smoothly, close to the 200 kilometer mark I started to notice that something was wrong with my rear wheel, and sure enough it was the wheel bearing, broken, letting the wheel starting to move around, worse and worse.”

Despite it all, Annie Seel approaches the event with a conviction and drive that keeps her moving forward no matter what.

“What I am really happy about, despite the fact that the wheel bearing broke and had me going on a rocky ride, is the fact that I am still in the race..."

*Additional sponsors that have helped Annie are DekkPartner/Michelin, Elmborgs Dental, Happy Industries, Karnag, KTM, Lindroths Machines and Loctite.

Photo courtesy of Maindru Photo