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Day Five - France on track for World Trophy victory

The fifth and penultimate day of the ninety-second running of the FIM International Six Days Enduro (ISDE) in Brive, France saw Australia claim their first FIM World Trophy team victory of the competition as Matthew Phillips – Sherco, Daniel Milner – KTM, Daniel Sanders – KTM and Joshua Green – Yamaha placed twenty-eight seconds ahead of France, who maintained their position at the head of the overall World Trophy team results.

In the FIM Junior World Trophy category Italy took the win, finishing ahead of France and the USA. With just the final day motocross races to be contested, France lead Italy in the overall Junior World trophy category by a slender twenty-eight seconds. Also claiming their first Women’s World Trophy day win of the event, USA topped the results on day five but trail Australia in the overall Women’s World Trophy results by seven minutes.

Taking full advantage of the fact that France’s World Trophy team rider Christophe Nambotin – KTM was severely handicapped due to riding with a broken bone in his right hand, Australia claimed their first day win of the 92nd ISDE to finish twenty-eight seconds ahead of the home nation. Continuing their impressive results Finland placed third with Great Britain fourth and Portugal fifth. But with only the final day motocross races remaining, France carry a sizeable seven-minute and thirty-two second lead into the final day of competition in Brive. Finland sit third overall, just under two-and-a-half minutes behind Australia.

“It’s a great feeling to be in a very positive position in the World trophy category,” explained France World Trophy team rider Loic Larrieu. “With the injury to Christophe Nambotin this fifth day has been a tough one for us, but he is a very experienced and determined rider so he has done everything and more for the team. We are all looking forward to the final day. Personally, I want to do my part for team France, and if things go well I hope to also win the overall.”

In the FIM Junior World Trophy class a thrilling final is all but assured as just twenty-eight seconds separates class leaders France from Italy. On day five Italy went all out to reduce France’s lead, doing exactly that and shortening the gap from forty-four seconds to twenty-eight. Helped by a strong performance by Davide Soreca – Honda, Italy are ready to go all-out in the hope of winning the Junior World Trophy class for the first time since 2008 when the event was held in Greece. But with their home advantage France will be anything but easy to beat. The USA sit third overall, ahead of Great Britain, Spain and Chile.

Claiming their first day win in the FIM Women’s World Trophy class, the performances of the USA’s Kacy Martinez – KTM, Rebecca Sheets – KTM and Brandy Richardson – KTM suggest that it might not be long before they are ready to challenge the mighty Australian trio of Tayla Jones – Husqvarna, Jess Gardiner – Yamaha and Jemma Wilson – Yamaha for the Women’s World Trophy title. Getting their first day win in what is collectively their first ISDE, the USA topped the day by fifteen important seconds. With Australia second, Sweden finished third with France fourth. In the Women’s World Trophy standings Australia are nevertheless all but assured yet another class victory, carrying a seven-minute advantage into the final day.

Topping the Enduro 1 class results to maintain his position at the head of the overall class standings, Josep Garcia – Spain finished seven seconds ahead of Italy’s Davide Guarneri – Honda and heads into the final day motocross races with a forty-six second advantage. Behind Garcia and Sipes in the overall E1 standings, Ryan Sipes is just fourteen seconds behind Guarneri with Jeremy Tarroux – Sherco, Eero Remes – TM and Davide Soreca – Honda rounding out the provisional top six.

Topping three of the penultimate day’s five special tests, Loic Larrieu – Yamaha was the rider to beat in the Enduro 2 class. Placing eight seconds ahead of Nathan Watson – KTM, Australia’s Daniel Milner – KTM ended the day third, ahead of Christophe Charlier – Husqvarna, Alex Salvini – Beta and Kailub Russell – KTM. With the one-minute penalty he picked up earlier in the week removed at the end of the fourth day, Loic Larrieu – Yamaha holds a commanding one-minute and thirty-one second lead at the top of the E2 class standings. Daniel Milner – KTM sits second ahead of Albin Elowson – Husqvarna, Salvini, Charlier and Watson.

Winning four of the five special tests in the Enduro 3 class, Taylor Robert – KTM claimed an eight second margin of victory while also taking one step closer to the overall E3 class win. With Spain’s Jaume Betriu – KTM once again Robert’s closest challenger, Australia’s Daniel Sanders – KTM placed third ahead of Matti Seistola – Finland and Chilean Ruy Barbosa – Husqvarna.

The sixth and final day of the 2017 FIM International Six Days Enduro (ISDE), France will see competitors compete in the final motocross races, situated close to the paddock in Brive.