We have been talking with the six members of Team USA as they prepare to jump on a plane and head to Germany for the 2012 ISDE. Destry Abbott and Russell Bobbitt are the first two questionnaire’s we are posting here on Seat Time. Make sure you check back for more posts from the other team members. We are boarding our plane for Germany this coming Thursday, so be prepared to follow us along the way!

Destry Abbott

In preparation for the ISDE in Germany, what has been your main focus of training?
Until a few weeks ago I didn’t even know I was going, so I’ve been focusing on MX and Endurocross races. The Moto is actually going to help me, since that’s what I’ve usually worked on before a lot of the ISDE’s in the past (sprint speed). Last week I was able to hook up with Caselli and Robert, over in Cali, to work on endurance riding (we did three days in a row).

What type of test sections do you feel you will excel at and what type of sections will you have to dig deepest in?
Since I’m a west coast guy, the faster stuff is always good for me. I like the trees, but not when it’s raining and really sloppy.

Which teammate do you think is going to make this year’s ISDE an awesome experience?
That’s a tough one! I’m really excited about the team and know all the guys really well except Mullins! I’ve heard great things about him, so it will be cool to be able to hang out with someone knew! I always enjoy hanging out with Brown, since he’s older then me and I know he won’t be giving me a hard time about being the old guy on the team.

Russell Bobbitt

In preparation for the ISDE in Germany, what has been your main focus of training?
I have saved the movie Beer Fest on DVR and watch it every day and practice my beer drinking from a boot. I was told that the final moto this year involves chugging a German beer each lap!! Haha, but really my main focus of training hasn’t really changed much from my normal routine. I am always working on doing sprints and short moto’s to get the intensity level up. I did have my training schedule set up like as a periodization program and will be reaching a peak for six days. I feel like I am in great shape for ISDE!

What type of test sections do you feel you will excel at and what type of sections will you have to dig deepest in?
I think that from what I have seen this race is going to be like that it will suit me pretty well. It is more of a “East Coast” style ISDE. By that I mean that it is on real dirt and not just desert and SoCal like terrain! I feel like I excel when the conditions have good traction like what I am used to at home and when the tests are relatively tight or technical. Although, I feel like my riding in fast tests is still improving all the time, but I will have to search for every second in the wide open tests to keep up with the Euros.

Which teammate do you think is going to make this year’s ISDE an awesome experience?
I am gonna have to throw out old Andrew Delong’s name in there for this honor! Andrew is riding on the Junior Team this year and has been tearing it up this year at the GNCC’s. He is one of the most fun guys to hang out with at the track and is a true goof ball. Shenanigans are a sure thing with this cool kid, and I can’t wait! While at the same time I know he will be there bouncing the rev limiter in every special test trying to bring home the Junior Trophy!