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.