ISDE: Aussie girls victorious

Team Australia claims fourth consecutive Women's World Trophy in 2016 ISDE in Spain

The 2016 International Six Days Enduro saw Australia's women's team stamp their dominance on the event once more, the girls claiming their fourth consecutive World Trophy.

The ISDE saw Team USA make history, as Taylor Robert (KTM), Kailub Russell (KTM), Thad Duvall (Husqvarna) and eleventh-hour replacement Layne Michael (Husqvarna) emerged victorious in the men's class while Sweden's Mikael Persson (Yamaha), Albin Elowson (Husqvarna) and Jesper Borjesson (Husqvarna) triumphed in the juniors.

Held in Navarra, Spain, the final day saw close action in all classes, with all of the category leaders making it to the end of the event without any problems. Led by Taylor Robert, the USA World Trophy team put the finishing touches to their impressive week-long performance to secure a well-deserved World Trophy team win.

With the likes of Australia and Italy failing to get all four of their team riders to the finish, Great Britain claimed the final runner-up result with the Czech Republic claiming third – and with it the Watling Trophy for the most improved nation. Sweden ended up fourth with Estonia fifth.

"I've been so stressed the last few days, this is a huge deal for me and for the USA," commented a delighted Taylor Robert.

"I kept trying to tell myself that everything would work out, but I know anything can happen during the final motos. This is my sixth ISDE and it feels so good to have won with Team USA and also to have got the overall individual result.

"My final moto went well, I got a good start and quickly worked my way into the lead. Then half an hour after my race was over was the worst because I was waiting for a phone call to tell me how Daniel Sanders got on, to find out if I'd got the overall.

"The team's been great; we've been getting closer and closer to this year-on-year. This one's for Kurt Caselli."

With just 22 seconds separating the USA from Junior World Trophy class leaders Sweden at the start of day six, everything was to play for. But with each of their three team riders performing well in their respective final motocross races, Sweden extended its lead to 45 seconds and with it claimed the 2016 Junior World Trophy team win. With the USA in second Italy placed third with Finland fourth and France fifth.

Not expected to do anything other than win, Australia's women showed exactly why they are the nation to beat in the Women's World trophy class as each of their three riders safely reached the end of their motocross races to claim a fourth class win in as many years. Host nation Spain held on to the runner-up result with Germany third.

Italy won the Club team category ahead of Trail Jesters (USA) and Eric Cleveland Memorial (USA), with Team Scotland fourth and Missouri Mudders (USA) fifth. KTM 1 topped the manufacturers' award with Nathan Watson, Kailub Russell and Taylor Robert, ahead of Husqvarna 1 and Beta Boano 1.

The fastest rider in the E1 class on day six was Great Britain's World Trophy team rider Nathan Watson (KTM). Claiming a start-to-finish win, the former MXGP racer placed ahead of Australia's Jack Simpson (KTM) with Josep Garcia (Husqvarna) battling his way to an eventual third place result.

Although unable to end his impressive week-long performance with a motocross win, Garcia nevertheless secured a well-deserved Enduro 1 class overall win, placing three minutes ahead of Watson. Third went to Spain's World Trophy team rider Victory Guerrero (KTM).

Taylor Robert rounded out a near perfect week with a controlled win in his motocross race, finishing ahead of Jaromir Romanick (KTM) with Denny Philippaerts (Beta) third. Comfortably topping the Enduro 2 class overall result, Robert placed ahead of countryman Kailub Russell with Jamie McCanney (Yamaha) rounding out the top three.

Spain's Jonathan Barragan (Gas Gas) brought his ISDE participation to a close in the best possible way by winning his Enduro 3 class final motocross race. Second off the start, Barragan caught and passed Danny McCanney (Husqvarna) for a convincing win. McCanney held on to the runner-up result with Jaume Betriu (KTM) third.

For the Enduro 3 class overall result Australia's Daniel Sanders (KTM) held on for the win, finishing close to one minute ahead of Giacomo Redondi (Honda). Third went to Portugal's World Trophy team rider Luis Correia (Beta).

The first-ever FIM Vintage Trophy was won by America's Fred Hoess (Husqvarna).

France will host the 92nd edition of the ISDE in Brive, over August 28 to September 2.

ISDE: Aussie girls victorious

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