Enduro
The golden age of enduro
Find out about the seven best riders in the history of the sport here.
The Enduro World Championship may not have begun until 1990, but the discipline has nevertheless enjoyed the kind of longevity that many other forms of motorcycling long for. The International Six Days Enduro(ISDE) is the oldest series of the offroad categories on the FIM's calendar.
We don't have to go too far back in time to encounter the riders who helped create such a lasting name for the sport. Erwin Schmider, KvetoslavMasita and RofWitthöft were much celebrated during the 1970s and '80s, and accumulated 29 titles between them (when the series was known as the European Championship).
When it became known as the World Championship, its reputation continued to grow and new stars were born. The golden age of enduro was a special time, and here we count down some of the biggest names in the sport.
Giovanni Sala (Bergamo, Italy, 1963)
Giovanni Sala: Five times world champion
© KTM
Together with Mario Rinaldi, Giovanni Sala is Italy's most beloved enduro rider. His charisma combined with five titles were an irresistible combination for his fans, and he scored 46 wins in his eight years competing in the World Championship.
None of his wins were sweeter than his last, in the Czech Republic in 1999. After five years riding in the 250cc category, Gio stepped up to the 400cc class where he battled Rinaldi all season long. In the end, it was Gio who prevailed to take the fifth and final title of his illustrious sporting career.
1993: 500cc World Champion – KTM. 1994: 250cc World Champion – KTM. 1995: 250cc World Champion – KTM. 1998: 250cc World Champion – KTM. 1999: 400cc World Champion – KTM.
Mario Rinaldi (Monterotondo, Italy, 1966)
Mario Rinaldi: Took four titles
© www.genuinefranciacorta.com
Just like Sala, enduro was in MarioRinaldi's blood. Both were born in the Lombardy region of Italy, a real enduro stomping ground, and each started participating in the sport from very early ages.
They were rivals, but friends too, and helped to make the factory KTM team the most formidable in the World Championship. Rinaldi's final years in the series were spent with Yamaha and Husaberg, with whom he finished his competitive career in 2005. That same year, he opened the Mario Rinaldi Enduro Academy, helping to bring through the next generation of talent.
1992: 350cc World Champion – KTM. 1994: 350cc World Champion – KTM. 1997: 350cc World Champion – KTM. 2000: 400cc World Champion – KTM.
Kari Tiainen (Riihimäki, Finland, 1966)
Kari Tiainen was a true legend of the sport
© KTM
If the French are considered the masters of the modern-day Enduro World Championship, then the 1990s undeniably belonged to the Finnish. One Finn who established himself as a true fans' favourite was KariTiainen.
Tiainen began his career in motocross in 1989 before opting to switch to enduro, and he won his first title with Suzuki just a year after making his debut. His final campaign in the World Championship was in 2001, by which point he'd amassed 77 victories and his seven titles (in addition to Suzuki, he also won on a Husqvarna and a KTM), leave him behind only Juha Salminen in the all-time list.
1990: 250cc World Champion – Suzuki. 1991: 250cc World Champion – Husqvarna. 1992: 500cc World Champion – Husqvarna. 1994: 500cc World Champion – Husqvarna. 1995: 500cc World Champion – Husqvarna. 1997: 500cc World Champion – KTM. 2000: 500cc World Champion – KTM.
Paul Edmondson (Otley, UK, 1969)
Paul Edmondson is a member of the 'four' club
© Paul Edmondson
Known as 'Fast Eddy', Paul Edmondson won a European title and four World Championships with three different manufacturers. He was also a regular fixture on the British ISDE team, taking four victories in the 125cc class.
Edmondson's signing to Gas Gas was a key moment in his career and legacy. His commitment was displayed by moving to Girona in Spain (to be close to the factory's HQ). He brought expert knowledge, new methods and techniques, which were all embraced by a nation that until that point had not had much of a presence on the international scene.
Edmondson's contributions are held in high regard in the Spanish enduro world, and are viewed as the foundations of the popularity and future success of the sport in the country.
1989: 125cc European Champion – KTM. 1990: 125cc World Champion – KTM. 1993: 125cc World Champion – Husqvarna. 1994: 125cc World Champion – Gas Gas. 1996: 250cc World Champion – Gas Gas.
Anders Eriksson (Hjo, Sweden, 1973)
Anders Eriksson: Seven titles to his name
© Husqvarna
The most decorated Swedish enduro rider in history, Anders Eriksson was a rival of Tiainen in the 500cc category and, thanks to that, the protagonist of some of the most memorable duels of the 1990s and early 2000s.
Just like his adversary, Eriksson won seventitles, but the brakes were put on his career as the result of a crash in Finland in 2005. The Swede was laid low by injury until August 2006, and both he and Husqvarna remained loyal to one another for the remainder of Eriksson's career. He joined BMW for his final season before retirement, helping them to develop their new bike.
1995: 350cc World Champion – Husaberg. 1996: 350cc World Champion – Husaberg. 1998: 500cc World Champion – Husqvarna. 1999: 500cc World Champion – Husqvarna. 2001: 500cc World Champion – Husqvarna. 2002: 500cc World Champion – Husqvarna. 2003: 400cc World Champion – Husqvarna.
Mika Ahola (Hämeenlinna, Finland, 1974-2012)
Mika Ahola won five consecutive titles
© Honda
In contrast to many others on this list, Mika Ahola's career was peaking at an age when many other riders would be seeing theirs come to an end. Ahola's determination and love of the sport helped carry him to a first World Championship title at the age of 33, his first of five consecutive crowns.
Ahola's untimely death came at a point in his career when he was fully enjoying the fruits of both his labour and talent. As much of a star off the bike as he was on it, Mika left a huge void in the sport.
2007: E2 World Champion – Honda. 2008: E1 World Champion – Honda. 2009: E1 World Champion – Honda. 2010: E2 World Champion – Honda. 2011: E3 World Champion – Honda.
Juha Salminen (Vantaa, Finland, 1976)
Juha Salminen lays a claim to being king of enduro
© KTM
With eight World Championships, five ISDE victories and two GNCC (USA) titles to his name, Juha Salminen is the most decorated rider in enduro.
The Finn, who hung his helmet up at the age of 37, was mentored by his good friend Tiainen in his early years in the World Championship and took advantage of being able to train in Marbella where he was able to improve on his one weakness: hard terrain.
To this day, nobody has matched Salminen's technical ability, and he remains an idol and reference point for the entire enduro world.
1999: 125cc World Champion – KTM. 2000: 125cc World Champion – KTM. 2001: 250cc World Champion – KTM. 2002: 400cc World Champion – KTM. 2003: 500cc World Champion – KTM. 2004: E2 World Champion – KTM. 2007: E1 World Champion – KTM. 2011: E1 World Champion – Husqvarna.