France Consolidates Lead In Red Bull ISDE World Trophy
OutdoorHub 09.25.12
France continued to consolidate its early lead in the coveted ISDE World Trophy on Day Two of the Red Bull International Six Days Enduro on Germany’s Saxony on Tuesday. The French national team was well supported by KTM factory riders Antoine Meo and Christophe Nambotin, the 2012 World Champions and Johnny Aubert second in E2 behind current overall leader Pierre-Alexandre Renet.
France now has an impressive 12-minute advantage over Australia in second place with KTM’s Australian Offroad champion Toby Price continuing to make a strong charge despite having damaged a wheel on the opening day. The competition rules allow for repairs but no replacement of bikes but Price was still well in the competition and trails E3 leader Nambotin in the individual class rankings by just 43 seconds. Italy also had a good day moving up from overall fifth to third place to displace Finland. Spain however dropped down the order and has lost the services of KTM factory rider Cristobal Guerrero who crashed in the tenth test and dislocated his shoulder. He will not be able to continue in the competition. The team’s collective times count and they are able to drop their worst result of the day.
The USA team, also heavy on KTM factory riders hung on to sixth place with the strongest rider on Tuesday being Charlie Mullins who is currently fourth in the E2 class and eighth overall. Kurt Caselli appears to have no lingering problems from a first day crash.
There were also some changes in the order of the World Junior Trophy and Britain moves into the lead, displacing opening day leaders France. The British have a 39- seconds advantage on the French line-up while USA moved up two places into third.
In the individual rankings, Meo and KTM factory teammate Eero Remes are 1-2 in the E1 class. Johnny Aubert is second in E2 trailing overall leader ad French teammate Renet and in E3 it is Nambotin and Price who are currently 1-2 in E3.
The second day saw riders engage in the same loop as on the opening day but on Day Three the pace will step up with organizers saying that there will be more difficult riding on the agenda. KTM is not only present to support its world class factory riders; it also offers a full customer package service that embraces everything from rental bikes to spares and expert advice and tips to the extent that is allowed by the rules of the competition.
The ISDE is not only a highlight of the Enduro calendar for the world’s best; it is also an opportunity for riders and enthusiasts at all levels to compete together in the same conditions and track in what is a multi layered competition right down to club level. It is the oldest offroad competition on the FIM calendar. It was first held in the UK in 1913 and apart from disruptions for WWI and WW2 has been held every year.
