ISDE 2021: Day Three - Italy and USA move further ahead
By Press Release on 2nd Sep 21
Competing on the events Valle di Staffora route for the third and final time, day three of the 95th International Six Days of Enduro (ISDE) saw Italy extend their lead in both the World Trophy and Junior World Trophy competitions.
Once again they mastered the rough, dry, and dusty special tests. Just as on days one and two, the USA topped the Womens World Trophy class while Josep Garcia (KTM) was again the days outright fastest rider.
Marking the mid-way point of the race, it was again Italy that led the way in the World Trophy competition, extending their overall advantage from one-minute 22 seconds to three minutes and 20 seconds. Edging ever further ahead of Spain, Italys riders Andrea Verona (GASGAS), Davide Guarneri (Fantic), Thomas Oldrati (Honda), and Matteo Cavallo (TM), all delivered strong performances.
With gaps starting to increase between teams, despite dropping further behind Italy, Spain were able to edge further ahead of the USA, extending their advantage to one-minute and 48 seconds. Once again led by the days overall fastest rider Josep Garcia (KTM), Spain remains best placed to capitalise should any issues beset Italy during the last half of the event.
Ive really enjoyed battling with Andrea (Verona) today, when you have to fight for every second and keep pushing, pushing, pushing all the day, its the best way to race, commented Garcia following a day-long battle with Italys fastest World Trophy rider. I knew coming into today that it would be like that, and my goal was just to keep on pushing. Its been a good day for the team as well. We can all look forward to a new course tomorrow.
With France having held down the fourth-place spot through days one and two, at the end of day three it was Sweden, helped by strong performances by both Albin Elowson (Husqvarna) and Mikael Persson (KTM) who moved into fourth. After three days of competition the two nations are separated by less than ten seconds.
The end of day three saw no change in the overall top five in the Junior World Trophy category with Italy now more than three minutes ahead and finishing fastest on the day. Comfortably ahead of the USA, who in turn sit ahead of France, Italys juniors seem determined to match their senior teammates every step of the way at this years ISDE.
Just over a minute outside of the top three in fourth, Sweden enjoyed a strong day three, unquestionably helped by Max Ahlin (Husqvarna), who ended the day as the eighth fastest rider overall. Im really pleased with the way things have gone today, and a little surprised, admitted Ahlin. I tried to push a little more on the last test on day two and found some good speed. I guess I brought that speed into today and everything worked out great. I liked todays test, but Im looking forward to new tests tomorrow. Lets see how the last few days go for our team.
One notable change in the Junior World Trophy competition was Finland dropping from sixth at the end of day two to 14th and last at the close of day three. With team rider Peetu Juupaluoma (Husqvarna), are exiting the event, Finland became the first Junior World Trophy team to drop to two riders. Benefiting the most, Chile moved into sixth.
The top three nations in the Womens World Trophy class are the same as they were at the end of day two with the USA ahead of Great Britain and Spain. Now close to nine minutes ahead of Great Britain, team USA once again saw Brandy Richards (KTM) lead the way as she set the pace as the fastest outright female competitor.
Just as the USA extended their advantage over Great Britain, so did Great Britain extend their lead over Spain. The two countries are now separated by close to one minute. More than one hour now separates the fastest Womens World Trophy team, the USA, from Italy, who sit eighth in class.
After enjoying a sizeable margin of victory as the outright fastest rider on day two, on day three Josep Garcia (KTM) was just under three seconds faster than Andrea Verona (GASGAS) with Mikael Persson (KTM) third.
Verona and Persson also sat at the top of the Enduro1 class results on day three with Italys Davide Guarneri (Fantic) enjoying his best day of the event so far in third.
In Enduro2 it was again all about Josep Garcia (KTM) with USAs Taylor Robert second-fastest despite a big crash in the opening special test. Producing his best result of the event so far, Swedens Albin Elowson (Husqvarna) placed third fastest E2 class rider.
Its been a strange day for me, confirmed Taylor Robert. I crashed hard on the first test, then felt great on the final test, but my times dont seem to tell the same story. Other than that, Im just pleased to get through today. The tests and some of the time controls are super beat up now, tomorrows new trails and tests cant come soon enough.
Italian riders Matteo Cavallo (TM) and Matteo Pavoni (TM) put in the two fastest Enduro3 class times on day three, closely followed by Spains Jaume Betriu (KTM) in third.
The FIM International Six Days of Enduro continues on day four with competitors taking on the new one hundred and ninety-eight-kilometre Valle di Curone lap.
More like this…
Winning championships helps Husqvarna to record sales as motorcycles fly out the door worldwide
Husqvarna Motorcycles is reporting a blowout year with record sales attributed to new launches and high levels of success in motorcycle sports.
Helmsley Report: British Enduro Championship 2021 - Tom Sagar wins
Multi-time British Enduro Champion Tom Sagar secured victory at Helmsley after some incredible riding throughout rounds one and two of the 2021 ACU Michelin British Enduro Championship.
Jamie McCanney and Yamaha split
Jamie McCanney has announced that he has left the Yamaha fold after five years of competition together.