AMA ISDE legend Fred Hoess was the overall winner at the 2025 FIM Enduro Vintage Trophy in Piekoszow, Poland. Hoess, along with several other American riders, including former AMA National Enduro Champion Terry Cunningham, represented the U.S. in the race that honors the International Six Days Enduro and the riders and heroes who have competed in this long-standing off-road international event.
Photos by Future7Media
The Enduro Vintage Trophy reflects both current and past ISDE formats, featuring a three-rider Trophy Team as the top class and no motorcycles made after 1983. For the first time in five years, Team Italy did not secure the overall win in Poland; instead, Germany’s team took home the gold. France earned the silver, and Poland, the host nation, took bronze. Italy’s demise was a mechanical issue that knocked out one of its Trophy riders, ISDE legend Georgio Grasso, from the race.
Team USA faced the same setback when riders Cunningham and Billy Burns experienced mechanical problems that knocked them out of the competition.
Team Germany took an early lead and never let go of it. On day one, over 200 competitors from 15 countries started the race, which was on this day a short 30-mile loop ending with an acceleration test, which is no longer used in today’s ISDE. Team USA had a strong start, finishing the day in second place overall.
Day two involved roughly 90 miles of riding with six special tests. The sandy terrain was tough on the bikes, turning the race into a test of endurance. Some of the day’s victims included Grasso, Cunningham, and Burns. Hoess pushed on and finished at the top of the individual standings.
Day three was another 90-mile ride in the heat, but Team Germany stretched out its lead, while the home team moved up into third behind France.
Hoess also increased his lead in the individual standings and was a clear favorite for the overall victory heading into the fourth and final day.
The always-popular motocross test capped off the racing, and Team Germany, made up of Bert von Zitzewitz, Johannes Steinel and Uwe Weber, had no problem hanging on for the overall Trophy Team win by six minutes over France. The Polish fans were thrilled to see their team finish out the race on the podium.
Hoess again dominated the day’s racing to take the individual overall victory on his 1983 Husqvarna WR 250. “I’ve raced the Six Days 26 times in my racing career, but I’m 59 years old now and feel the FIM EVT suits me better,” Hoess said. “It’s fantastic. The event allows you to be competitive, but it maintains the spirit of classic Enduro that I think we all enjoyed so much from our younger racing days. It’s a fun, social event, with a relaxed feel.”
In 2024, the FIM EVT introduced a new coefficient in the results that factors in the age of both the rider and motorcycle, with the goal of improving fairness and competitiveness for all.
“I think there’re pros and cons,” Hoess said of the new system. “It’s nice. It allows older riders to be competitive and provides them with a better opportunity to finish well in their respective classes. I’m not sure if the formula is perfect yet, but as it was only introduced last year, it needs time to be tested and any problems ironed out.”
Team USA included 35 supporters for 12 riders, forming a Trophy Team, a Silver Vase Team, and two club teams.
Another ISDE veteran, Chilly White, also made the podium, finishing third in the B4 Class aboard a beautiful 1978 Bultaco 370. Silver Vase team rider Robert Johnson from Washington finished fifth in the highly competitive B3 class and was the second-highest U.S. finisher behind Hoess.
With the ninth edition of the FIM Enduro Vintage Trophy complete, competitors and fans of classic Enduro can begin to look forward to the tenth edition of the race in Zschopau, Germany, in 2026.CN
2025 FIM Enduro Vintage Trophy Results
1. Team Germany (Bert von Zitzewitz, Johannes Steinel, Uwe Weber) 2:05.57
2. Team France (Denis Chiper, Francis Mace, Francois Borsotto)
3. Team Poland (Wojciech Rencz, Grzegorz Chorodyński, Ryszard Augustyn)
4. Team Switzerland (Bernard Christophe, Arthur Welti, Roland Huguelet)
5. Team Netherlands (Lubert Lenselink, Martin Schalkwijk, Marcel Bulten)
10. Team USA (Fred Hoess, Billy Burns, Terry Cunningham)
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