Enduro

ISDE Day 4 – France Maintain Lead Despite Injury To Christophe Nambotin

Posted:

Friday, September 1st, 2017

8:51 AM

Jemma Wilson

Despite team leader Christophe Nambotin ‰ÛÒ KTM picking up a hand injury during the second half of day four of the ninety-second running of the FIM International Six Days Enduro (ISDE), France continue to lead the FIM World Trophy team competition with a seven-minute lead over Australia.

In the FIM Junior World Trophy class competition remains close at the top with France continuing to lead but are just forty-four seconds ahead of Italy. Australia continue to dominate the FIM Women‰Ûªs World Trophy category ahead of the USA and France.

With another new course and yet another long day of riding, France‰Ûªs World Trophy team riders Christophe Nambotin ‰ÛÒ KTM, Christophe Charlier ‰ÛÒ Husqvarna, Jeremy Tarroux ‰ÛÒ Sherco and Loic Larrieu ‰ÛÒ Yamaha were again the team to beat. Finishing more than six minutes ahead of day four runners-up Finland, with just one full day of competition remaining France hold what looks to be a winning advantage. But with Nambotin picking up a serious hand injury, the final day of competition might prove decisive in the battle for the World Trophy class win.

Daniel Milner

France were not the only nation to see one of their World Trophy riders pick up and injury as Australia‰Ûªs Daniel Sanders ‰ÛÒ KTM also crashed, injuring his right shoulder. Finishing the day but unable to change tyres ahead of the fifth day of competition, Australia‰Ûªs hopes of challenging for a podium result may have been ended. For the first time in the event Finland claimed the runner-up result in the World Trophy class, with all four of their team riders making it to the finish without problems or injury.

At the head of the FIM Junior World Trophy category just 0.07 of a second separated France from second placed Italy with team USA only five seconds behind in third. Setting up a thrilling end to the 92nd ISDE, France‰Ûªs forty-four second advantage over Italy means that there is no room for error during the final full day of competition. With the USA just under two-minutes behind leaders France there is also still everything to play for ahead of the final day motocross races.

Australia are holding firm at the top of the FIM Women‰Ûªs World Championship competition, topping the class on day four to hold a seven-minute and fifteen second advantage over the USA in the overall results. Providing the fifth day of competition does not deliver anything in the way of unwanted surprises, Australia look to be headed for yet another Women‰Ûªs World Trophy victory. Despite their lack of experience ‰ÛÒ all three team members Kacy Martinez - KTM, Rebecca Sheets - KTM and Brandy Richards - KTM are competing in their first ever ISDE ‰ÛÒ team USA hold a sizeable lead over third placed France.

Matt Phillips

In the Enduro 1 class Josep Garcia ‰ÛÒ KTM had by far his best day of the event, winning by more than thirteen seconds and also finishing as the day‰Ûªs fastest overall rider. Finland‰Ûªs Eero Remes ‰ÛÒ TM placed second with Jeremy Tarroux ‰ÛÒ Sherco third with Davide Guarneri ‰ÛÒ Honda fourth. In the overall Enduro 1 results Garcia sits twenty-five seconds clear of Tarroux with Guarneri third.

‰ÛÏI felt really good today, really good on my bike, this is why I was able to win today,‰Û

Josep Garcia topped the E1 class for day 4

Struggling during the day‰Ûªs final two special tests following his crash, Christophe Nambotin could place no higher than ninth in the Enduro 3 class as Taylor Robert ‰ÛÒ KTM topped the results ahead of Jaume Betriu ‰ÛÒ KTM with Matthew Phillips ‰ÛÒ Sherco third. From just under fourteen seconds behind Nambotin, Taylor Robert ‰ÛÒ KTM now sits more than one-minute ahead in the overall E3 class results.

In the Manufacturer‰Ûªs award KTM 1 team riders Nathan Watson, Josep Garcia and Christophe Nambotin continue to lead, holding a slender twelve-second lead over KTM 2 with TM Racing‰Ûªs Andrea Verona, Benjamin Herrera and Eero Remes in third.

Day four of the ISDE saw the start of the Vintage Trophy event with one hundred and thirty three competitors successfully finishing the opening seven-hour day. Completing two special tests, France‰Ûªs Simon Romieu ‰ÛÒ SWM took the win ahead of Australia‰Ûªs Geoff Ballard ‰ÛÒ Maico with France‰Ûªs Jean-Luc Rojat ‰ÛÒ Honda third.

Day five will see a repeat of today‰Ûªs course and tests.

For full day one results and live timing for day four later today CLICK HERE