ISDE DAY SIX: Barker beats them on the beach
By Team TMX on 17th Oct 26
Italy successfully defended both the World Trophy and Junior World Trophy titles as the 100th 6DAYS® FIM Enduro of Nations came to a spectacular close on the beach at Sines, Portugal. The USA made history with a seventh Women’s World Trophy crown, while Great Britain’s Lucy Barker stole some of the final-day limelight with victory in the Women’s motocross test.
Italy entered the final day with one hand on the World Trophy and did what was required to seal the deal. Andrea Verona (KTM), Morgan Lesiardo (Triumph), Samuele Bernardini (Honda) and Matteo Cavallo (TM MOTO) kept their cool in Sines to secure a second consecutive title, with Verona leading the team home and the celebrations starting immediately.
“It’s an unbelievable feeling,” said Lesiardo. “To win last year was amazing, but to repeat the victory again in Portugal, in the hundredth edition, is definitely something special. As a team we came together to make this happen. I’m looking forward to celebrating with friends, family and supporters.”
France finished as worthy runners-up after a strong week, while Sweden held off a late challenge from the United States to claim third overall by just 24 seconds. The USA had to settle for fourth, with Spain completing the top five.
Italy also retained the Junior World Trophy, with Alberto Elgari (TM MOTO), Manuel Verzeroli (TM MOTO) and Kevin Cristino (Husqvarna) delivering an emphatic victory.
Elgari was the fastest Junior rider, but the result was all the more impressive given that Cristino had dislocated his shoulder on Day One and Verzeroli had been battling an arm injury. Neither let their troubles derail Italy’s title defence.
“I have no words, honestly, I don’t know how to explain this feeling, it’s incredible,” said Elgari. “We had so many problems this week; Kevin [Cristino] dislocated his shoulder on Day One, Manuel [Verzeroli] hurt his arm, but they didn’t quit, we didn’t stop, and now we are the champions again!”
The United States finished second, 3min 49sec behind, with Spain taking third ahead of Australia and the Czech Republic.
The United States completed a record-breaking seventh MOTOREX Women’s World Trophy triumph, adding victory in the Final Cross Test to their dominance throughout the week.
Brandy Richards (KTM), Korie Steede (Husqvarna) and Rachel Gutish (Rieju) had led from Day One and finished with a commanding 9min 23sec advantage over Australia, finally breaking the tie between the two nations on six victories apiece.
“To get seven victories and break the tie we had with Australia really means a lot,” said Richards. “To have Korie and Rachel by my side doing it is special, too. We really wanted this seventh victory for the United States.”
Australia pushed all the way but had to settle for second, with France completing the podium. New Zealand finished fourth on their return to the 6DAYS®, while FIM Latin America took fifth.
The World Trophy Final Cross Test provided a suitably dramatic finale, with the top four riders separated by less than two seconds. The United States’ Dante Oliveira (KTM) took the race win by just four-tenths of a second from Verona, with teammates Grant Davis (KTM) and Jonathan Girroir (KTM) completing the top four.
But it was Verona who took the biggest individual prize, sealing the outright overall victory after a final-day showdown with Spain’s Josep García (KTM). The Italian’s performance delivered a dream result, combining his first overall 6DAYS® win with Italy’s World Trophy triumph.
“Unbelievable, it’s just incredible,” said Verona. “It was a fight all the way until the end. But to win my very first overall, and also win the World Trophy with Italy, is amazing.”
García finished runner-up overall, with France’s Zach Pichon (TM MOTO) third. Davis and Lesiardo rounded out the top five.
García still took the Enduro1 class win, ahead of Lesiardo and Sweden’s Max Ahlin (Honda), while Verona claimed Enduro2 honours ahead of Pichon and Davis.
Great Britain’s Brad Freeman (Beta) provided another nail-biting finish, claiming the Enduro3 class victory by just 0.42 seconds after six days of competition. France’s Julien Roussaly (Sherco) had to settle for second, with Sweden’s Albin Norrbin (Husqvarna) third.
Freeman ended the week eighth overall, capping a strong individual campaign with the class title. Nathan Watson also finished inside the overall top 10, taking sixth overall and fourth in Enduro2, while Jed Etchells finished 25th overall and 11th in class.
Italy’s Elgari took the Junior class honours by more than three minutes from the USA’s Toby Cleveland (Husqvarna), with France’s Clement Clauzier (Beta) third. Richards dominated the Women’s individual classification, winning by 5min 39sec from Australia’s Danielle McDonald (Yamaha), with Steede third. Australia’s Madi Simpson (Yamaha) and New Zealand’s Rachael Archer (Yamaha) completed the top five.
While Freeman’s Enduro3 title was a major British success, Barker delivered one of the standout performances of the final day by winning the Women’s motocross test after an exciting battle with Richards.
In front of enthusiastic crowds and under the Portuguese sunshine, Barker showed her sand-riding ability to beat the American in a memorable beach race and give Team GB a final-day victory to savour. She finished eighth overall in the Women’s individual classification, with Rosie Rowett taking 10th.
Sam Hughes finished 24th in the Junior class, with Callum Hughes 25th, as the British riders continued to battle despite the Men’s Trophy Team’s hopes having been ended by retirements earlier in the week.
Six days of heat, dust, demanding special tests and relentless competition made this a 6DAYS® to remember. Italy left Portugal with a double Trophy triumph, the USA rewrote the record books in the Women’s class, and Freeman and Barker gave the British team a pair of standout results to round off the centenary edition in style.
