ISDE Portugal 2019: Day Six report – United States win 2019 FIM ISDE
By Team TMX on 17th Nov 19
The United States claimed the 2019 ISDE FIM World Trophy victory at the ninety-fourth edition of the FIM International Six Days of Enduro in Portimao, Portugal.
In what is now their second win in the event, the United States led home RecoveR8 Team Australia in second with Italy hosts for the 2020 FIM ISDE securing third.
The FIM Junior World Trophy category marked a win for RecoveR8 Team Australia over the United States with Spain joining them on the podium in third. There was further reason for the United States to celebrate in this years FIM ISDE as their womens team also rode to victory in the FIM Womens World Trophy category.
The fourth edition of the FIM Enduro Vintage Trophy saw Italy triumph over Germany and France.
Proving themselves as the nation to beat in this years FIM ISDE, the United States won back the FIM World Trophy they last held in 2016. After edging out early pace setters RecoveR8 Team Australia during the midway stage in the race, they grew stronger as the week progressed.
Entering the traditional day six motocross race with a comfortable lead, Ryan Sipes KTM, Kailub Russell KTM, Taylor Robert KTM and Baylor Steward KTM barely put a foot wrong to clinch this years World crown.
Its an amazing feeling to win the FIM ISDE, told Sipes. It was an honour to be on the team when we first won it in Spain in 2016 and now to have this moment again is incredible.
"Its been a real team effort this week. I think everyone came together to deliver this winning result. I cant thank everyone involved for the support theyve given us all its not just us riders doing it, its the team manager, mechanics, volunteers and all those back home whove got us this far. Well celebrate tonight, thats for sure.
As defending champions, RecoveR8 Team Australia never gave up, claiming victory on day six. But with the deficit to their rivals too much to bridge, they ultimately had to settle for the runner-up result in this years title fight. Strong throughout the competition, Italy made no mistakes on the day to claim the third and final step of the FIM World Trophy podium.
Spain rode hard to collect fourth in this years race with Finland and France completing the top six.
RecoveR8 Team Australia made no mistakes on the sixth and final day of competition at the FIM ISDE to race their way onto the top step of the FIM Junior World Trophy podium. Despite holding a commanding lead over their rivals, the Australian trio of Michael Driscoll Yamaha, Lyndon Snodgrass Husqvarna and Fraser Higlett Husqvarna still topped todays motocross to cement themselves as this years Junior champions.
As a team we came out strong this week, said Lyndon Snodgrass. We wanted a strong start to the week, and I feel like we did just that. It put us in a good position and earned us a big lead that we needed to then maintain. As leaders it gave us that extra confidence to keep setting the pace.
All told we were still nervous starting out this morning, but once the racing got going we settled into things. Crossing the finish line knowing you put everything you had into six days of racing as World champions is a very special feeling indeed.
Offering the Australians their greatest challenge all week, the United States kept them honest right until the end. Securing second overall, they ended their week nine minutes and thirteen seconds behind the winners. Spain rode resiliently to third overall in the proceedings. Host nation Portugal impressed finishing out the week strongly for fourth overall, while Belgium rounded out the top five.
FIM Womens World Trophy
Creating their own piece of Enduro history, the trio of Rebecca Sheets KTM, Brandy Richards KTM and Tarah Gieger Honda secured United States second FIM Womens World Trophy win, their first since topping the inaugural running of the category in 2007. Bravely putting an end to Australias six-year win streak, the United States rightfully earned their place on the top step of the podium in Portimao.
The nerves were really high coming into today, I think everyone was so relieved to cross the finish line as World champions, commented Brandy Richards. Weve had a brilliant week and aside from some minor moments, weve been strong every day and I think thats been the key this year.
The FIM ISDE is so tough it wears you down, but youve just got to keep fighting. We did that and now finally the victory is ours. Also, with the boys winning the FIM World Trophy class too, its certainly put the United States on top!
With a healthy margin over Great Britain in third, Germany put in a solid final day of riding to claim their place as runners-up in the category. In what has been a successful FIM ISDE debut, Great Britain took third overall and are sure to become title contender in future editions.
Sweden held off Spain to take fifth, while Portugal will be pleased with their efforts on home soil for sixth.
Enduro individual
With the outright fastest time on the day, Spains Josep Garcia KTM topped the Enduro 1 class for the sixth time. Consistently proving himself as the rider to beat each day, Garcia secured the overall category win. Behind him, Ryan Sipes held off top Junior Lyndon Snodgrass by thirty-eight seconds after more than four and a half hours of timed racing to claim second. Australias Luke Styke Yamaha and Finlands Eero Remes Yamaha completed the top five.
Signing off on his 2019 FIM ISDE in style, Taylor Robert claimed the day six Enduro 2 win to ultimately claim the overall category victory. Ensuring another memorable result for the United States, Kailub Russell joined him on the podium in second. Italys Davide Guarneri Honda rounded out the top three.
Fraser Higlett was the top Junior in fourth, with his fellow Australian compatriot Josh Green Yamaha taking fifth.
In the final battle for Enduro Women honours, Brandy Richards secured the day six win over Germanys Maria Franke KTM. However, it was Franke who enjoyed the spoils of victory claiming the outright Enduro Womens win in this years FIM ISDE.
Richards, helped by her final days success, took the runner-up spot, while Great Britains Jane Daniels Husqvarna was third. Australian Jessica Gardiner Yamaha and Spains Mireia Badia Husqvarna were fourth and fifth respectively.
The final day of competition in the EVT class saw Italys Stefano Passeri KTM come out on top. He was followed home by Australias Rick Madden Husqvarna in second with Mario Rinaldi KTM third.
The ninety-fifth edition of the FIM ISDE will take place in Rivanazzano Terme, Italy from 31 August 31 to 5 September 2020.
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