I look at it this way, I'm very proud of all of the riders in the IBR, regardless of their personal outcome. I'm immensely proud of my friends that completed the rally, regardless of their score.
This was a competitive event. Just riding would not win it. Just being an efficient hooverer of bonus locations would not win it. Just riding along, grabbing what you could and having nothing bad happen the entire rally would not win it.
The winning rider needed a multitude of skills, and needed to operate in a manner flexible enough to deal with the constant changes, both his own, and the external events of new bonus sheets at each checkpoint, the weather, road issues and many other tiny details that get lost in the hurricane of necessary things to do during a multi-day rally. Including managing your body and mind so that you can continue to perform at the necessary level. And the ability to overcome problems, whether they are of your own design, or from external sources.
Because of all this, the IBA team determined that a certain level of competency in all of these disciplines would be required to be earn the label of "Finisher". Not being privy to their discussions, I surmise that riders, with this full knowledge at the start, would have a benchmark by which to plan their efforts. In a competitive event, having some idea of your expected level of performance is key for many to drive themselves. Sometimes they have the will, but are unable to execute it in a manner that reaches that predetermined plateau. This doesn't mean someone failed. It certainly doesn't mean they didn't push themselves! It only means that this time, their efforts were not enough to rise to the pre-determined level the event hosts had established for "Finisher" status. They have still earned our respect by competing in an event few choose to even enter, where fewer are chosen and still fewer complete their ride to the end.
To all the riders - Well Done!
