France Seizes World Trophy Lead in Opening Day of Red Bull ISDE 2012
OutdoorHub 09.24.12
The 2012 International Six Days Enduro (ISDE), the oldest offroad event in the International Motorcycle Federation got underway in Saxony, Germany with the French team, including three KTM factory riders seizing an early lead in the coveted World Trophy.
France’s Antoine Meo (KTM), Rodrig Thain, Johnny Aubert (KTM), Pierre-Alexandre Renet, Christophe Nambotin (KTM) and Sebastien Guillaume finished the day with a collective time of 5 hours 37 minutes 01.50. Guilaume’s time as the slowest was not counted as each team can drop their worst time in the calculation.
Australia with Glenn Kearney, Daniel Milner, Christopher Hollis (KTM), Matthew Philipps, Josh Strang (KTM) and Toby Price (KTM) were 4:13.29 behind and Finland, who won the trophy last year were third with Eero Remes (KTM), Antii Hellsten, Roni Nikander (KTM), Juha Salminen, Jari Mattila (KTM), Marko Tarkkala trailing by 5:34.42.
Spain, with KTM factory rider Cristobal and his brother Victor Guerrero, a KTM supported rider and teammates were fourth. Italy was fifth and the USA, with four strong KTM riders finished sixth. USA’s Kurt Caselli crashed during the day’s race but is expected to start tomorrow. Eight minutes 15.13 separate the first eight teams.
In the Junior World Trophy Italy was the fast finisher on day one followed by Britain, Australia, France and USA. Seven national teams are also contesting the Women’s Trophy and after day one it was France who led the field, followed by Australia, Germany, Sweden and the USA.
KTM factory riders were also very strong in the individual classes. In E1, KTM’s newly crowned E1 World Champion Antoine Meo of France had a strong first day finishing ahead of factory teammate Eero Remes who trailed him by 12.44. KTM’s Johnny Aubert of France and his factory teammate Cristobal Guerrero made a solid start in E2 finishing second and fourth while KTM’s E3 World Champion Christophe Nambotin of France taking an early lead in front of Toby Price, a leading KTM rider in Australia close behind at 4.32.
The 2012 ISDE is being hosted by Saxony in Germany in and around the famous Sachsenring racing circuit and the opening day offered near perfect riding conditions. The event has attracted around 470 riders from professional level to club and hobby riders and represents the perfect annual occasion for hobby riders to race against the world’s best. The 2012 edition has attracted riders from all over the world.
