The 1965 ISDT was the event’s return to the UK since it’s visit to Wales in 1961. Any reader doubting of the significance of the event in the national sporting calendar at a time the national motorcycle industry was a key player in the economy can be reassured by the official visit of Denis Howell MP, the British Government’s Minister for Sport, who crossed the Irish Sea to watch what became a wash out.

‘the Motor Cycle‘ report said “In the toughest, roughest, most demanding International Six Days Trial in memory – probably ever – East Germany repeated last year’s victory by taking home the Trophy and Silver Vase. Their six-man Trophy team and four man Vase team were all MZ mounted. They led in both contests by devastatingly big margins. What is more, their teams were the only ones to finish without any retirements.

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Runners up for the Trophy were the experienced Czechs. They came determined to stop the East Germans from scoring a hat-trick but were forced to concede defeat to the tune of 330 marks. Second place for the Vase went to the West Germans. At the halfway mark they seemed set for a win but, on Thursday, Richard Hessler (74cc Zundapp) retired with a damaged rear sprocket. This put 300 marks on the team’s score by the end of the week.

British Hopes, which looked fairly rosey at the start, were completely shattered. Just four of our 14 men in the Trophy and Vase contests completed the 1,122 mile course. Of these three were unpenalized – Roy Peplow (490 Triumph) Ray Sayer (348cc Triumph) and John Lewis (348cc AJS)”