Top-10 test times on a near-stock Beta 480 showed Josh Strang is far from done representing his country at the Six days, despite him keeping saying “next year will be my final year racing.” His 10th time at the ISDE will be for the 100th edition next year in Portugal — surely it’s a no-brainer?

Missing from the Australian ISDE team for a few years for reasons we couldn’t quite figure out, Josh Strang has made a solid case for placing experience, age and wisdom in the team alongside the flying young riders in the gold and green squad.

In 2025 at ISDE Italy, Strang did more than bring his huge experience — he added top-five scratch test times, proving he’s still fast and still a worthy Six Days Trophy team member.

Jumping between Kawasaki, then Sherco, and for two years now running Beta’s in GNCC, Josh showed the big four-stroke Beta can cut the mustard between the tapes – and this was on a near-standard 480 Beta from the Italian manufacturer compared to his own race bike in the US.

In the toughest conditions at ISDE Italy, Strang was typically fast and consistent and showed clearly that he’s still got what it takes to mix it with the best in the world of enduro.

Enduro21 caught five with Strangy during the ISDE to check out where he’s at and why he’s not ready yet to hang up his boots.

Hi Josh, first of all, it has not been going too badly for the Australian team this week, how have you found it?

Josh Strang: “Yeah good but I think the Australians and the US riders always struggle when we come to Europe. On the grass tests, when it’s not wet, we watch how those guys are riding and they just have the technique down which we just can’t master because we don’t have the same ground to try and even get close. Once it rains, man we’re in trouble!

“That’s the biggest thing for me is trying to just keep momentum and not lay on the ground. My times in the grass tests, where it was super short, were not too bad. I think as long as you didn’t crash you were fairly close.”

You’ve been enjoying it though?

“I’ve just been trying to be as good as I could. The two rock tests were my favourite all week. I think I was fourth fastest in the second one today (day five) and I just honestly want to get through to the finish, you know, it’d be stupid for me to have a crash or make a bunch of mistakes and overall it has been a good event.”

You’re no stranger to the ISDE by now and obviously have a very good record, what keeps you coming every year?

“Yeah, this is my ninth ISDE and, I don’t know, it’s difficult at this event because there’s no monetary incentive for us to come. Pretty much we’re just coming to be proud Australians, you know? To be part of this trophy team is something important but we put all the effort in and there’s no real reward. I go back to the US and we go to a GNCC and there’s money to be made.

“So it’s hard but I did look at the special test up on the mountain with thousands of people just lining the track and it was amazing. Sure, they’re not cheering for the Aussies but it’s just cool to see. The Six Days is special.”

How is the big Beta 480? Beta doesn’t officially support the ISDE but you got help to be here with a bike?

“The support I got this year from Beta was really good and they’ve been really helpful for me. My bike in the US is a little different than what I rode here, I just rode the stock 480 and when I got on the test track at the beginning of the week it was definitely a little less power compared to what I’m racing back home.

“But maybe for the grass tests that was a good thing, the more usable, manageable power and so for me it worked well. In the rocky stuff I would have liked my race bike, I think it would have been even better but you know, for me the 480 this week was good.

“They’ve supported myself and the Aussie team and then all the club riders and I’m lucky I didn’t break anything so I haven’t really had to use anything but they have been more than helpful.”

Next year would be your 10th ISDE, the 100th edition. Will we see you back?

“I don’t know. Maybe next year will be my final year racing full time in the US to move into management after that. But I thought maybe this year would be my final Six Days, though I think I was second fastest Aussie so there’s still potential!

“Next year being the 100th running of the Six Days would be good to do. I’ve got two boys and I really wanted them to come this year to check it out ’cause I thought it was going to be my last. But if they’ll put me on the team then you never know, maybe I’ll be in Portugal.”

Photo Credit: Future7Media | Andrea Belluschi + Nicki Martinez