FIM International Six Days Enduro 2018
Australia win Teams event for both men and women
Daniel Milner takes outright individual honours
Day six saw the ninety-third edition of the FIM ISDE brought to a spectacular close with the traditional Motocross race. Staying close to the host city of Viña del Mar, all professional and amateur riders went head-to-head for the final day of racing on the sandy motocross track.
With a comfortable lead in the classification, Australia entered day six with a virtual grasp on the FIM World Trophy. Putting in a calm, cool and safe ride, they knew winning the Motocross race was not necessary to secure the overall podium.
With Italy and the United States fastest on the final day, Australia played it safe and crossed the finish line third overall to claim the coveted prize of FIM World Trophy champions, backing up their earlier victory from Slovakia in 2015.’
Adding to Australia’s success at the ninety-third edition of the FIM ISDE, Daniel Milner (KTM) secured victory in the overall individual category. Placing a safe eighth on day six, Milner did more than enough to seal the deal.
Daniel Milner
“This is a huge result for us. I had a sleepless night last night worrying about the final Motocross race, but it feels awesome that we won. We’ve been so strong as a team all week. Unfortunately, Lyndon Snodgrass dropped out on day two and we knew then how easily things could go wrong. But we never gave up fighting all week – the boys have ridden so, so good. To get this victory, along with the girls winning their class plus myself taking the individual win, is about as good as it gets for Australia and a result that is going to take a very long time to sink in.”
The battle for second and third outright in individual honours was a tight affair with Taylor Robert (USA – KTM) edging out Daniel Sanders (AUS – Husqvarna) by just eight seconds for the runner-up result following over four hours and thirty-one minutes of timed racing. The day six Motocross win went to Zachary Bell (USA – Husqvarna).
Taylor Robert
“It’s been an amazing week. I’m a little disappointed not to take the overall win but all-in-all I am happy with my riding. Days three and four were tough and I struggled a little there but I think everyone did. The tests were so technical, the dust was still a problem and the heat made everything a little worse. Day five went well, but I couldn’t catch Milner – hats off to him, he’s been riding really well out here in Chile. I’m really happy to take the win in my class and second for Team USA in the World Trophy competition is great too.”
Daniel Sanders
“It was a good week for me. I had a few small mistakes here and there during the week, but I am really happy with my speed. This was my first enduro race on the big FE 501 and I’m more than happy with the way it performed all week long. I really enjoyed racing the big bike in Chile. Conditions were tricky with the dust and the last lap of every day seemed like the most challenging one. With the heat coming through, your heart rate is also going up and you need to be strong physically to keep pushing.”
Josh Strang
“It was a long week of racing here in Chile and I am really happy we managed to get this win. The special tests were fairly good for me all week long. I was battling to remain up front every day. I was quite consistent during the week and managed to stay out of trouble. There were times when I felt that my speed could have been better, but overall it’s more of an endurance event. More than anything else, the ISDE is a team event and for Team Australia it is perfect to come out on top both in the World Trophy and the Women’s World Trophy standings.”
Although knowing that beating Australia would be a tall ask, the United States still put in a determined performance in the hope their rivals would fall at the final hurdle. However, their dream of a second FIM ISDE victory was not to be and they would have to be content with the runner-up result for 2018.
Claiming the final day victory in Chile, Italy complete this year’s FIM World Trophy podium in third, while out-going champions France finish fourth, with Spain fifth. Portugal, the Czech Republic and Sweden were sixth, seventh and eighth respectively, while host nation Chile and Germany complete the top ten.
World Trophy Team Results ISDE 2018
- Australia – 13:40:08:56
Josh Strang (Husqvarna)
Daniel Milner (KTM)
Daniel Sanders (Husqvarna)
Lyndon Snodgrass (KTM) - USA – 13:47:18:54
Ryan Sipes (Husqvarna)
Taylor Robert (KTM)
Steward Baylor (KTM)
Zach Bell (Husqvarna) - Italy – 13:50:57:85
Alex Salvini (Husqvarna)
Davide Guarneri (Honda)
Thomas Oldrati (Honda)
Giacomo Redondi (Honda) - France – 13:57:31:53
Loïc Larrieu (Yamaha)
Christophe Charlier (Beta)
Christophe Nambotin (Gas Gas)
Thomas Dubost (KTM) - Spain – 14:01:18:37
Victor Guerrero (Yamaha)
Cristobal Guerrero (Yamaha)
Jaume Betriu (KTM)
Jonathan Barragan (Gas Gas)
Women’s World Trophy ISDE 2018
As the sun set on the 93rd edition of the FIM International Six Days Enduro (ISDE), the Australian Women’s World Trophy Team have won their sixth consecutive world title! Taking out a record breaking 2018 title, Australia lead the charge ahead of Team USA by just over nine minutes, followed afterward by Spain, France and Sweden in third, fourth and fifth place respectively.
After five days of Enduro racing in blinding dust and stifling heat, day six presented the ladies with a short and fast Motocross circuit, where the value of remain mistake free is utterly critical to your individual and the team’s overall success.
With the Pacific Ocean set as the backdrop to the action-packed final day of the 2018 ISDE, Vina del Mar put on a spectacular show for all attending fans, and Australia pulled out all stops to gain further ground on Team USA.
Scoring another consecutive win overall for the day, Tayla Jones clocked in the fastest time for Team Australia of 10:23.76, leaving not a shadow of a doubt as to her rightful place as first overall in the class.
Tayla Jones
“It was a good six days! We had a strong team, we got some good times at the start of the week which really helped overall, and towards the end we stayed consistent which helped reduce the overall stress from the event. I’m really happy to get a sixth consecutive title, which is a new record! I’m also really honoured to get the overall championship! I have won once it before but there is no doubt that the second time is 10 times better. I would like to give a big thank you to the whole Australian team, the supporters, helpers and volunteers – we couldn’t have done it without them. I would also like to thank the whole Women’s World Trophy Team, Mackenzie and Jess, they’re great teammates. I would also like to thank all my supporters and sponsors back home, and everyone who made this possible!”
Jessica Gardiner clocked in the second fastest time for the team in day six of 11:21.54, which has secured her place as fourth overall, sitting behind Livia Lancelot from Team France by just over six minutes. 2018
Jessica Gardiner
“It’s day six and finally we’ve gone through a really solid, hard week. The whole Team Australia helped us get through and we’re really happy to become six-time World Champions! It’s not every day that Aussies are six-time World Champions, it takes a lot of consistency and hard work. I couldn’t be happier have ridden with Mackenzie and Tayla, they’re great teammates and they’ve made it a lot of fun all week!”
Splitting the Aussies to take second overall was Brandy Richards from Team USA.
With a first time ISDE Women’s World Trophy title under her belt, Mackenzie Tricker was elated with our part in Team Australia’s dominance of ISDE 2018.
Mackenzie Tricker
“It was my first ISDE, and it started off pretty good in day one and two, but as the week went on, I felt like I went downhill. As we moved closer to day six, I just tried to salvage what I could and finish, but I felt pretty rough. I am absolutely stoked to have finished the event and have learnt a lot in the process. I was part of a great team and in the end, we were able to get the win!”
Women’s World Trophy ISDE Results
- Australia – 10:26:54:17
Tayla Jones (Husqvarna)
Jessica Gardiner (Yamaha)
Tricker Mackenzie (KTM) - USA – 10:35:57:27
Rebecca Sheets (KTM)
Tarah Gieger (Honda)
Brandy Richards (KTM) - Spain – 10:47:48:11
Mireia Badia (Husqvarna)
Sandra Gomez (KTM)
Gabriela Seisdedos (Gas Gas)
Enduro 1
- Andrea Verona (TM) 4:37:32.45
- Davide Guarneri (Honda) 4:38:07.91
- Victor Guerrero (Yamaha) 4:39:04.06
- Ryan Sipes (Husqvarna) 4:40:00.41…
9. Fraser Higlett (Husqvarna) 4:48:36.03
Enduro 2
- Taylor Robert (KTM) 4:31:47.96
- Steward Baylor (KTM) 4:37:01.50
- Thomas Oldrati (Honda) 4:37:58.89
- Josh Strang (Husqvarna) 4:38:18.86
Enduro 3
- Daniel Milner (KTM) 4:29:53.48
- Daniel Sanders (Husqvarna) 4:31:56.22
- Giacomo Redondi (Honda) 4:37:17.18
Enduro Women
- Tayla Jones (Husqvarna) 5:08:48.18
- Brandy Richards (Husqvarna) 5:11:43.87
- Livia Lancelot (Honda) 5:13:24.78
FIM Junior World Trophy
Ending a ten-year winless streak, Italy raced into the FIM record books as the 2018 FIM Junior World Trophy champions. Previously winning the category in Greece in 2008, Italy were overjoyed to return to the top step of the podium once more. In what’s been an outstanding week of racing for the Italian trio of Andrea Verona (TM), Matteo Cavallo (Beta) and Davide Soreca (TM) they also secured their fifth day win in this year’s race.
Andrea Verona
“It’s just an unbelievable feeling. We knew coming into Chile that we could fight for the win, but we never imagined the entire week would go as well as it has. Last year we were just fifteen seconds behind France at the finish, so to win this year is great. Every day we pushed hard and never settled for position and I think that showed by only losing one day. It’s been ten years since Italy last won this class so that’s special too.”
Finishing just under four minutes behind, the United States capped off a memorable week in Chile to take the runner-up result. In the battle for third, France fended off the challenge from host nation Chile to take third. Despite ending their week fourth, Chile proved that they are becoming an Enduro nation to be reckoned with and will no doubt push to secure a debut FIM ISDE podium in the years to come. Australia and Sweden were fifth and sixth respectively.
Team Australia’s three riders, Fraser Higlett, Thomas Mason and Andrew Wilksch have no doubt shown nations near and far that the emerging talent from Australia is world class. Clocking in the fastest time for day six was Mason of 14:18.01, who seemed at home on the Motocross circuit. Mason’s excellent efforts in day six has seen him move up to 51st position overall and 16th position in the E3 category!
Coming in hot after Mason was Wilksch, with a fastest time of 14:40.17. Due to the immense pressure from international counterparts, Wilksch has moved down to 49th position overall and has ended the six days in 15th position in the E3 category.
Rounding out the Australian Junior World Trophy Team in day six was Higlett, who clocked in a fastest time of 19:54.96. In a dramatic final day, Higlett ran into an issue in the final race and had to push his bike across the line after two laps! Higlett’s sheer determination over the course of the past six days has seen him take out an impressive ninth place in the E1 category, and 38th overall.
