Enduro

Team Australia and United States lead the way at FIM ISDE at conclusion of day two

Posted:

Wednesday, November 13th, 2019

7:21 AM

Team Australia and United States lead the way at FIM ISDE at conclusion of day two

Daniel Sanders headed the field once again on day two to help Team Australia maintain it's FIM World Trophy Team lead. Photo: Dario Agrati

Team Australia has increased their lead in this year‰Ûªs FIM International Six Days Enduro (ISDE) with a winning ride on day two in Portugal.

Continuing to establish themselves as the nation to beat, both the Australian FIM World Trophy and FIM Junior World Trophy teams topped their respective categories.

In the FIM Women‰Ûªs World Trophy class there was a change in the lead with the United States moving past Germany and to the top of the standings.

At the head of the FIM World Trophy team it is the RecoveR8 backed Team Australia, fronted by a hard charging Daniel Sanders, who led the way. With Sanders winning all-but-one of the day‰Ûªs seven special tests, they extend their advantage to fifty seconds over closest rivals United States.

Once again proving the closest challenger to the Australians, the United States worked hard to see all four of their riders finish inside the top-fifteen overall on day two. While the gap between the leading two nations remains relatively close, the two nations have pulled notably clear of the competition in Portimao.

For the second day of competition the five hundred plus competitors from twenty-six nations retraced the course from the previous day. However, with roughening conditions, it was a battle of attrition for many.

Italy remain in third, but are now over five minutes off the lead. ‰ÛÏAustralia and United States are incredibly fast,‰Û

Luke Styke holds down second in the Enduro 1 class, he finished 5th overall on day two. Photo: Dario Agrati

Matching their FIM World Trophy teammates, Team Australia extend their lead in the FIM Junior World Trophy classification with a winning result. Clearly enjoying the rough and sandy conditions, the Australians are now almost three and half minutes ahead of the United States in second.

Building speed and positions in this year‰Ûªs FIM ISDE, defending champions Italy move up to third on day two. Spurred on by the performance of Andrea Verona - TM, they will look to bridge the two-minute gap to the United States on day three.

‰ÛÏIt‰Ûªs been a good day and I‰Ûªm happy with sixth overall and top Junior,‰Û

Tayla Jones is the highest placed Aussie woman finishing third on day two. The defending champions sit 1.14 seconds behind the USA and Germany, Photo: Dario Agrati

Losing time on the leaders, France slip to fourth in classification and sit twenty-seven seconds behind Italy. Great Britain round out the top five, but will need to keep a watchful eye on Spain in sixth, who look to improve on favourable conditions for day three.

Proving the team to beat on day two, United States surged to the top of the FIM Women‰Ûªs World Trophy class. Truly finding their feet in the deep sandy ruts and holes, they now lead the proceedings by one-minute and eight seconds over Germany. After their winning ride on the opening day, Germany struggled to match the pace of the United States and defending champions Team Australia. With the Australians racing to second on the day, they move within striking distance of overtaking Germany.

Great Britain remain in fourth with Jane Daniels delivering the team‰Ûªs best result of fourth. Spain hold fifth, while Sweden complete the top six.

Spaniard Joseph Garcia continues to lead the Enduro 1 class. Photo: Dario Agrati

In the Enduro 1 class, Garcia continued his winning ways of day one. Establishing himself as the rider to beat, the Spaniard won all seven special tests, extending his advantage to a commanding two minutes and twenty-five seconds. While Garcia remains comfortable out front, the battle for a place inside the top-four is tight. Australian Luke Styke in second holds a four-second lead over the United States‰Ûª Ryan Sipes, who in turn is just eight seconds clear of Andrea Verona in fourth.

United States teammates Taylor Robert and Kailub Russell lead the way in Enduro 2, with Robert topping the final three special tests to lead Russell by twenty-one seconds. Behind them, Guarneri gained ground, moving past Australian Fraser Higlett for third. United States‰Ûª Ben Kelley rounds out the top-five.

Tam USA's Taylor Robert leads the Enduro 2 class after claiming three special stage victories on day two. Photo: Dario Agrati

As the leading rider in this year‰Ûªs FIM ISDE, Daniel Sanders also heads the Enduro 3 category. Now over four minutes clear of Great Britain‰Ûªs Danny McCanney in second, he has got plenty of breathing room as they face a new course for day three. Growing in confidence and speed, McCanney jumps to second position, pushing the United States‰Ûª Steward Baylor back to third. Italy‰Ûªs Rudi Moroni is now fourth, with Great Britain‰Ûªs Alex Snow slipping to fifth.

In the Enduro Women‰Ûªs class the battle for victory was played out between United States Brandy Richards and Germany‰Ûªs Maria Franke. Richards bettered her rival by seven seconds to extend her overall lead over Franke to twenty-two seconds. Behind the leading duo, Australian Tayla Jones is third, with Jane Daniels twenty-nine seconds behind in fourth, while Jones‰Ûª teammate Jessica Gardiner completed the top six.

Team Australia hard at work. Photo: Dario Agrati

The FIM ISDE continues on day three with competitors facing a new course and set of special stages on the Monchique Challenge route with a total distance of two-hundred and sixty-six kilometres to be covered. The FIM Vintage Trophy also gets underway with an initial acceleration test.