Report: FIM International Six Days Enduro
By TMX Archives on 20th Oct 16
Great Britains four rider World Trophy team of Danny McCanney, Nathan Watson, Jamie McCanney and Jamie Lewis have claimed a deserved runner-up result at the 91st running of the FIM International Six Days Enduro in Navarra, Spain.
An event that will long be remembered as the first to feature the new four rider (previously six) World Trophy team rule, team GB battled through a week full of drama and mixed weather to place second behind the USA and ahead of surprise podium finishers the Czech Republic.
Despite seemingly straight forward special tests the event, as it always seems to do, didn't fail to deliver surprises on an almost daily basis – from defending World Trophy team Australia losing a rider and effectively crashing out of the team competition on day one to stand-out performances from eventual overall individual winner Taylor Robert and Spanish Junior Josep Garcia, not a day passed without incident or accident.
But like only a handful of teams in the competition, Great Britain's World Trophy squad were able to buck that trend, ending the six-day event having had a relatively straight forward week.
In consistently delivering a strong team result day after day, in getting all four riders to the finish, they came away with a result few expected. Like the Czech Republic who placed third, the team's speed and mechanical reliability brought a just reward.
"Finishing the event on the podium is amazing,” explained best placed individual Brit Danny McCanney at the close of the final day. "I don't think anyone expected this result, I don't think you can expect too much at the ISDE because a lot of things need to go your way, but this year, with the new four-rider rules, we got the job done. We weren't the fastest team but we all got to the finish and rode well. I think we deserve the result and we know what we can achieve in the event now.”
Just three minutes behind team USA – who made history by winning the World Trophy category for the first time ever – Danny, Nathan and the two Jamies certainly didn't have the perfect week, as all riders had to overcome some drama during the week.
For Danny much of the early days of the event were spent adjusting to two-stroke machinery after two years racing a 250F. "It took a little while to get back in the swing of things, but it was great being back on a two-stroke. The first two days, the dry days, were a bit of a shock to the system, but when it rained on day three I was loving it. The wet conditions really gave the British riders a boost.”
Also switching classes and moving up to the Enduro 2 class on a 450 was Jamie McCanney. Crashing on the enduro test on day three Jamie bounced back to deliver a strong final few days and place as the second best Brit, in eighth overall and just two places behind brother Danny.
"This has been an amazing way to end the season. It was a last minute decision to race the WR450F. We've had a completely stock bike and despite only getting a few hours on it before the event everything went well here in Spain. To finish such a tough event and get on the podium on a standard bike is great. The first two days when it was dry were good for me. I could control my pace and push hard to improve my times.
"When the rain came on day three things became harder. I had a big crash in the enduro test and lost over one-minute. The damage was done there so I kept pushing as hard as I could to improve my overall result. Overall, it's been a good ISDE and I really enjoyed it. I'm also happy that Team Great Britain came away with a runner-up result in World Trophy.”
Following his stand-out rookie season of Enduro World Championship competition Nathan Watson took to the start of his first ever ISDE not really sure what to expect. Struggling on day one with the dust from the slower riders ahead of him, come the second half of the event he found his feet and ended his first Six Days on a high by winning his final day motocross race.
"It was really tough on the first day,” acknowledged Nathan. "Being in amongst all of the riders from some of the slower nations was a bit sketchy with all the dust. I crashed on the first day trying to pass slower riders, so it wasn't the start I'd hoped for. I had a big crash on the enduro test on day two, then got stuck on one of the hills on day three when it rained, so the first half of the week was eventful.
"Things improved during the fourth and fifth day and then to win the Enduro 1 moto on the final day was great. I've definitely learned a lot about the event and like all the team I'm made up that we finished on the podium.”
Drafted into the team to replace David Knight, Jamie Lewis did an outstanding job of supporting his three full-time team mates. Rising to the occasion from the off following two good opening days Jamie sat inside the top 30 in the overall individual classification. Battling his way through ‘the wet day' – day three – Jamie eventually placed as the 10th fastest Enduro 2 class rider.
"One little mistake can put a rider out, which puts the whole team result out, so it's a fine line between pushing hard and pushing too hard,” explained Lewis. "The first two days were really good for me, then I struggled a bit on the enduro test on day three. But I enjoyed it. It's been amazing to be a part of a runner-up team.”
Unfortunately, Britain's Junior World Trophy team came unstuck on day four when Lee Sealey failed to make it to the finish. Sixth at the end of day three Jack Edmondson and Josh Gotts went on to finish 14th, as the fastest country to have dropped one rider. Jack ended the event in 13th in the Enduro 1 class and as the highest placed 125cc rider with Gotts 21st in Enduro 2
"It's been a tough week, especially on a 125. I've really enjoyed it, the mixed weather certainly made things challenging but I feel like I rode well. I made some mistakes, but it's impossible not to during the six days, but I learned a lot. I had a smile on my face when it started raining, I preferred those conditions. I'm looking forward to doing it all again next year.”
In the Club team competition Scotland's Euan McConnell, Frazer Norrie and Fraser Flockhart claimed a well-deserved fourth place result, just two minutes from a possible podium result.
There were more strong results from British Club teams as British Army Enduro riders Tom Ellwood, Kalem Hicks and Kevin Murray placed 10th, one position higher than Team Wales riders Roger Holland, James Adam and Charlie Evans in 11th. Witley A riders Arnaud Didley, Robert Carey and Aaron Smith finished in 55th with Team St George in 57th with James Jackman, Jack Lee and Daryl Bolter, who unfortunately failed to finish day five.
Of the 123 Club teams Witley B placed 74th Tristan Robinson, Neil Bowker and Paul Jay. TORC Ireland's John Lynch, Paul McCarthy and Simon Kennedy finished 89th. In 99th position was IOM Southerm MCC riders Jack Collins, Richard Curphey and Craig McGee. Last but by no leans least of the British Club teams was Dyfed Dirt Bike club's Iwan Rees, Philip Jenkins and Aled Rees.
The 91st ISDE featured a three-day Vintage Trophy event, bringing together a wide range of classic bikes from different nations. With most in showroom condition and cared for better than most other machines in the event, Great Britain's Ian Barnett emerged as the best individual finisher who together with Cefin Evans and Jonathan Stobbs won the Vintage Trophy National team category ahead of The Netherlands and Italy.
