Team USA crowned champions at ISDE
By Team TMX on 13th Nov 23
The 97th FIM International Six Day’s Enduro (ISDE) ended with the United States team taking the FIM World Trophy and FIM Women’s World Trophy win in San Juan, Argentina. A dramatic Final Cross Test saw France crowned FIM Junior World Trophy winners.
Team USA led from the off with Taylor Robert (KTM), Johnny Girroir (KTM), Dante Oliveira (KTM) and Cole Martinez (Honda) hardly putting a foot wrong. Opting to lock down the FIM World Trophy competition in style, they secured the day six win to make it six from six in San Juan.
This victory marks their third time winning the FIM World Trophy competition. As a rider who has been there from the very beginning, it was an emotional moment for Robert, who announced his retirement from professional competition.
“It’s been a dream week for us,” told an emotional Robert. “We did everything right each day and always tried to have our four riders inside the top ten as much as possible.
“It’s been an incredible journey for me. I helped the USA win our first ISDE in 2016 and now this will be my last. I’m sad for this chapter to end, but I’m so happy to go out on a high. The ISDE is an incredible race!”
In the final standings, France ends their week as vice-champions behind the United States, with the out-going champions Great Britain taking third. Chile secured a memorable result with fourth, while Venezuela were the only other team to see all four riders reach the finish in fifth.
The final day of racing in the Junior World Trophy competition was anything but plain sailing. Starting the Final Cross Test with a 20-minute lead, Sweden were natural favourites to win. But midway through the race, Albin Norrbin’s bike developed a technical problem. With his teammates sacrificing their results to help him, their race lead evaporated.
Proving that the ISDE is never over until it is over, France emerged as the victors of the FIM Junior World Trophy. The United States won day six to finish as vice-champions, while a dejected Sweden slipped down to third overall. Argentina will be pleased with their weeklong efforts for fourth, while the Czech Republic completed the top five.
“It’s amazing to win the Junior category,” said France’s Thibaut Giraudon. “We can’t thank our team enough for the support they’ve given us all week.
“Of course, we’re sorry to see the Swedish team go out at the very end like they did, but sometimes that’s how racing goes. We feel for them but are also excited to celebrate this victory.”
With a four-hour lead in the FIM Women’s World Trophy competition, the United States arrived at the Final Cross Test on day six as the champions elect. Sticking to the script, Brandy Richards (KTM), Korie Steede (KTM) and Rachel Gutish (GASGAS) took the day six win to cement themselves as this year’s class winners. The United States have now won the FIM Women’s World Trophy four times.
“It’s been quite the week,” said Richards. “All week the focus was on keeping our bikes and bodies going.
“We raced hard, but always focused on finishing with all three riders together. I’m super proud of what we achieved this week and will remember this ISDE for a long time to come.”
In what proved to be an incredible race of attrition, only the United States saw all three riders reach the finish line. Despite losing a rider on day four, Australia was able to regroup and end their week as vice-champions. Battling their way to the finish line, Team FIM Latin America secured a debut podium result with third. France and Argentina round out the top five.
With the start gate dropping on the traditional Final Cross Test, it was Dante Oliveira (KTM) who raced on to win day six. Finishing right behind him in second, Spain’s Josep Garcia (KTM) did everything he needed to ultimately win the overall individual result.
After six incredible days of racing, Garcia took his third consecutive overall individual ISDE victory by one minute and nine seconds from Italy’s Andrea Verona (GASGAS). The United States swept the next three positions with Dante Oliveira (KTM) third, Taylor Robert (KTM) fourth and Johnny Girroir (KTM) fifth.
“It’s a dream come true to win the overall individual for three years now,” told Garcia. “It’s been an incredible week, one of the toughest ISDE races I have done, but now it’s time to celebrate!”
In Enduro1, Garcia was the clear winner, topping the category by an eventual 12 minutes. France’s Theo Espinasse (Beta) took second, with Great Britain’s Jed Etchells (Fantic) third. Verona secured the overall win in Enduro2. Oliveira was second, with Robert third.
With a technical issue on the Final Cross Test, Albin Norrbin (Fantic) saw his hopes of winning Enduro3 disappear. France’s Loic Larrieu (KTM) quickly picked up the pieces to take the victory. There was celebration for South America, with Chile’s Ben Herrera (GASGAS) taking second, while France’s Julien Roussaly (Sherco) rounded out the podium.
With the 97th FIM International Six Day’s Enduro now complete, the countdown begins towards next year’s event in Spain.