Victoria Hett of Team Canada – photo by FIM/Future 7 Media

By Marissa Baecker

SAXONY, GERMANY – First – Canada salutes Vernon, B.C.’s Victoria Hett as the only Canadian woman to ever complete the ISDE and this year ranked in the top ten and as well congratulate the Men’s Club team for completing the event in the middle of the world pack.

“There are some really fast riders out there,” were the comments from Team Canada’s Victoria Hett after Day one of ISDE competition. It was tough to put those words into perspective until France triumphed in all three competition categories with a 35 minute lead as they entered the sixth and final day ultimately securing the title that they last won in Mexico in 2010.

Rounding out the podium for World Trophy team competition placed Australia second and Italy third.

Ladies champion Ludivine Puy of France – photo by FIM / Future 7 Media

The final day motocross races ensured the event came to a spectacular close at the Sachsenring race circuit. Delivering one of the most impressive results at the FIM ISDE, Australia rode a tactical day six to end the event as runner-up to France.

With three of the team’s riders – Matthew Phillips (above – photo by FIM/Future 7 Media) – Yamaha, Josh Strang – KTM and Toby Price – KTM – finishing inside the top ten in the individual overall classification, Australia placed ten minutes clear of Italy.

Setting some impressive times in the final day’s motocross races, Italy consolidated their third position in the FIM ISDE to end the race on the final step of the podium. In the battle to secure the final two places in the top five standings, USA capitalised on crashes by Finland’s Eero Remes – KTM and Antti Hellsten – TM to steal fourth by only two seconds.

Unable to recover from their costly crash, Finland dropped back to fifth. Like their senior countrymen, who topped the FIM World Trophy team competition, France was also victorious in the FIM Junior World Trophy classification. Holding a two-minute and forty-three second advantage over their nearest rivals Great Britain, the French were able to successfully defend their FIM ISDE title.

As the only nation to consistently challenge France, Great Britain ended day six in a closely placed runner-up position. Going from strength-to-strength throughout the week, the USA finished in an impressive third place. As many predicted, France easily secured the FIM Women’s World Trophy team race with victory on day six.

Unchallenged throughout the week, they finished over one-hour and fifty-two minutes ahead of second placed Germany. With a healthy nine-minute advantage over Australia, host nation Germany set the fourth fastest team time of the day to secure second overall. With Australia finishing on the third step of the podium, Sweden and Finland completed the top five. In the individual overall standings the battle for outright victory was a close one between France’s Christophe Nambotin – KTM and Antoine Meo – KTM. By setting the fastest time of the day, Nambotin was finally assured of the overall win.

In the Enduro 1 category, Meo took the class win with Remes in second and Rodrig Thain – Honda completing the top three. Husaberg’s Pela Renet overcame a six-second deficit behind KTM’s Johnny Aubert to record victory in the Enduro 2 class. With Aubert settling for second, Italy’s Alex Salvini – Husqvarna finished third. By topping the individual overall classification, Nambotin also won the Enduro 3 class. Toby Price placed as runner up to Nambotin on the final day with Sweden’s Joakim Ljunggren – Husaberg completing the top three.