Australia win ISDE Day Two in Slovakia
The second day of the 2016 FIM International Six Days Enduro (ISDE) in Kosice, Slovakia saw this historic team competition come alive with Australia fighting back in style to claim a commanding victory.
Now holding the overall lead in the FIM World Trophy, FIM Junior World Trophy and also the FIM Women’s World Trophy team categories, Australia are proving themselves as the nation to beat in this year’s ISDE battle.
If early leaders USA thought they were going to runaway with proceedings in the latest edition of the ISDE, Australia quickly dampened their spirits with a stunning performance on day two. Hitting hard, they rapidly reduced USA’s seventy-four second advantage before taking control of the FIM World Trophy team classification.
Ending day two in front, Australia now hold an eight-second gap over the USA who will look to rebound and recover the time lost on day three.
Behind the two leading nations, France remain stationed in third. Although unable to gain any ground on USA or Australia, the defending ISDE champions have pulled clear of Spain in fourth. Sitting just over one-minute behind, Italy complete the top five in the World Trophy team competition.
Boosted by the performance of new Enduro 3 class leader Daniel Sanders – KTM, Australia secured their second consecutive day win in the FIM Junior World Trophy team class to further consolidate their lead. Slipping to over six minutes behind, Sweden still maintain their runner-up position in the class. The fight for third overall has tightened up between France and USA with the French holding a slender twenty-five second advantage over their American rivals in fourth placed. Italy round out the top five with Great Britain just seven seconds behind in sixth.
In the FIM Women’s World Trophy team competition there was no change at the head of the field. Australia’s Tayla Jones – Yamaha once again dominated the classification and together with her teammates Jessica Gardiner – Sherco and Jemma Wilson – Yamaha, Australia have now opened up a fifteen-minute lead over France and Sweden.
Securing his second consecutive day win, USA’s Kailub Russell – KTM extends his Enduro 1 class lead to almost thirty-seven seconds. Great Britain’s Jamie McCanney – Husqvarna holds onto second position while France’s Marc Bourgeois – Yamaha narrowly maintains third from Australia’s Josh Green – Yamaha.
In the Enduro 2 category Australia’s Daniel Milner – Yamaha claimed his first day win in this year’s ISDE. Sitting second in class, he has now closed the gap to leader USA’s Ryan Sipes – Husqvarna. Australia’s Matt Phillips – KTM is third overall at the end of day two.
Australia’s Daniel Sanders – KTM is the new leader of the Enduro 3 class with victory on day two. Fourth on day two, Sander’s fellow countryman Lachlan Stanford – Husqvarna drops to second position while Portugal’s Luis Correia – Beta sits just over one-second adrift of Lachlan in third.
Day three of the Slovakian ISDE will see competitors tackle the rough and bumpy tracks of days one and two in the opposite direction to ensure another physical and demanding day of racing in the hills around Kosice.
Focus on Team Australia Report – By Kendall Jennings
ISDE Day 2: The Australian Trophy Trifecta
The second day of the International 6 Days of Enduro (ISDE) has been completed in Slovakia. Day 2 was back in the hills, starting from Kosice, heading to Medzev, Kojov and back to Kosice. Two laps were completed with 3 special tests and 4 time checks, with a time limit of 8 hours to complete a gruelling course of 275kms, under clear sunny skies, and temperatures in the low 20s celsius.
In an event where every micro-second counts, a rider is scored on the lowest time to compete the special tests, and how they follow their timing schedule. Arriving too early for a Special Test, results in a penalty. Arriving too late for a Special Test, also results in a penalty. Riders can work the system, via calculating the time penalty and consequences to their overall time, therefore it is possible for a rider to gain an advantage by accepting a time penalty.
American Kailub Russell leads the E1 Class on his KTM on Day 2 of the ISDE with a total of 45:31.33 time. Great Britain’s Jamie McCanney is second on his Husqvarna. Australian Josh Green has his Yamaha in third place 33.99 seconds off Russell and 13.40 off McCanney.
In the E2 Class, Australian Daniel Milner has a competitive time on his Yamaha of 45:09.30. American Ryan Sipes is in second with his Husqvarna 11.98 off the lead, and Australian Matty Phillips has his KTM in third, 32.37 behind Milner and 20:39 off Sipes. Australian Tye Simmonds is in 8th, Beau Ralston 9th, Glenn Kearny 22nd, and Broc Grabham 32nd.
Team Australia’s Daniel Sanders has his KTM in the lead of the E3 with 45:53.90. Portugal’s Luis Correia on Beta has a total time 46:06.14 for second place, and Frenchman Mathias Bellino on his Husqvarna a time 46:08.82 in third. Australia’s Lachlan Stanford is 4th, and Tom Mason 21st.
Australia’s Tayla Jones has her Yamaha in front of the Women’s class with a time of 52:00.65, her team mate Jessica Gardiner has her Sherco in second place 1:48.47 behind Jones. Finland’s Sanna Karkkainen has crept her Yamaha up to third, separating the Australian Team trio, demoting Jemma Wilson on her Yamaha to 4th.
Team Australia leads the World Trophy after the second day of competition, with a combined total of 7:33:52.64. Team USA is in second with a combined total of 7:34:00.88, and Team France in third with a combined total of 7:36:94.
Team Australia also leads the Junior World Trophy after day 2 with a combined total of 4:38:04.84. Sweden is in second place with a combined total of 4:44:09.38, and France is in third with a combined time of 4:47:54.05
Team Australia’s Womens contingent is winning their class also with a combined total of 3:26:46.43. Team France in is second 3:42:06.04, and Team Sweden in third place with a combined total of 3:52:06.04.
In the special tests, USAs Kailub Russell completed the 4.20km Baska Special Test 1 in 7:07.10. .88 seconds behind him was Australian Matty Phillips and Daniel Milner 1 minute 19 seconds behind Phillips.
