Day five of the 91st running of the FIM International Six Days Enduro (ISDE) in Navarra, Spain served up yet more drama as Italy’s hopes of challenging the USA for the World Trophy team win ended no sooner than the day had begun. Crashing heavily in the opening special test Manuel Monni – TM was forced to retire from the event with a broken right hand. Team USA now sit close to four minutes clear of second placed Great Britain. In the Junior World Trophy competition everything is still to play for as at the end of the penultimate day just twenty-six seconds separates class leaders Sweden from the USA.
Before the fifth day had even started there was a significant change in the results as Spain’s Ivan Cervantes – KTM was unable to take to the start following an injury he picked up on day four, dropping the host nation from fourth to fifteenth in the World Trophy competition. Soon after it was Italy who lost a rider, meaning the USA found themselves in the driving seat. Not needing to take any unnecessary risks the USA quartet – who ended day four less than one and a half minutes ahead – nevertheless claimed the day win ahead of Great Britain, who claimed their best result of the event to date. The Czech Republic posted the third fastest World Trophy team result on day five with Sweden fourth. The USA, Great Britain and the Czech Republic hold first through third in the overall World Trophy standings respectively, with the USA sitting almost four minutes ahead.
Just three seconds separated Sweden from the USA at the top of the day’s Junior World Trophy team results as the battle for the overall class win continued. Overcoming a disappointing, crash filled day four, Sweden’s Albin Elowson – Husqvarna, Mikael Persson – Yamaha and Jesper Borjesson – Husqvarna outpaced the USA by the narrowest of margins to enter the final day of competition just under thirty seconds ahead. Finland placed third on day five with Italy holding third overall.
Maria Franke – KTM posted the day’s fastest outright time in the Women’s class with Germany placing third in the Women’s World Trophy classification. Australia’s Jessica Gardiner – Yamaha, Tayla Jones – Yamaha and Jemma Wilson – Yamaha posted the fastest team result, moving to just over three and a half minutes ahead of Spain in the overall Women’s World Trophy results.
The fastest outright rider on day five was Spain’s Junior World Trophy team rider Josep Garcia – Husqvarna who finished eighteen seconds ahead of Australia’s Daniel Sanders – KTM with Giacomo Redondi – Honda, Taylor Robert – KTM and Luis Correia – Beta taking second to fifth respectively. With just the final motocross races to go Robert still sits at the top of the overall individual results with Sanders just twelve seconds behind after more than three hours of special test racing completed. Garcia sits third overall with Giacomo Redondi – Honda fourth.
“This overall day win is for my friend Ivan Cervantes,” explained Josep Garcia. “It is disappointing for everyone in the Spanish team that Ivan isn’t able to finish what is his last ISDE, so my win is for him. He’s helped me so much and it is my way of saying thank you to him. I had a great day, it’s been an amazing week – so much better than I expected. I have a good lead in the Enduro 1 class but I am thirty seconds behind Taylor in the overall. I will push on the final day and I hope everything will be good for me.”
Focused on his individual Enduro 1 class result Josep finished comfortably ahead of his closest challenger, distancing himself from Great Britain’s Nathan Watson – KTM by thirty-eight seconds. Third went to Spain’s Victor Guerrero – KTM. Taylor Robert – KTM heads into the final day of competition all but assured of victory in the Enduro 2 category as he sits close to two and a half minutes ahead of his USA World trophy teammate Kailub Russell – KTM.
On day five Taylor topped the Enduro 2 class by eighteen seconds from Jaime McCanney – Yamaha. Third went to USA rider Grant Baylor – Yamaha. Daniel Sanders – KTM placed ten seconds ahead of Giacomo Redondi – Honda to extend his lead in the Enduro 3 category to just over forty seconds. Third both on the day and in the Enduro 3 classification was Luis Correia – Beta.
On the second day of the inaugural FIM Vintage Trophy America’ Fred Hoess – Husqvarna is the overall leader with over a minute in front of his nearest challenger Peter Lenselink – SWM from Holland.
Day six of the 2016 ISDE will see all the riders, including those in the Vintage Trophy, compete in the final motocross races, at a purpose built MX track within the confines of the Circuit of Navarra.
ISDE Day 5 – Key Facts
USA have one hand on World Trophy
Italy and Spain lose riders
Sweden under pressure from USA in Junior World Trophy class
Australia have sights set on Women’s World Trophy
Spain’s Josep Garcia fastest on day
6 tests / 201 Km