At the end of day four, France continue to lead the World Trophy and Junior World Trophy classes at the FIM International Six Days Enduro (ISDE) in Olbia, Sardinia, while Australia remain out front in the Women’s World Trophy category. With the centennial edition of the ISDE getting ever nearer to its close, day four brought with it a new course and a new set of special tests. Venturing further into the mountains surrounding Olbia, many regarded day four to be the toughest so far. Tighter time schedules and rugged, rocky terrain pushed many to their limits.
Unphased by their new surroundings, France grew even stronger on day four as they extended their lead in the FIM World Trophy team competition to eleven minutes. With two days left to run in the eighty-eighth edition of the ISDE, France are almost certain of collecting top honours. Behind the leaders the battle for the runner-up result remained as unpredictable as ever. After a difficult day three, Australia are now back in second position. Trailing the United States by eighteen seconds at the beginning of the day, they ended it forty six seconds in front.
Slipping down the running order to third, the United States had no answer for the hard charging Australians on day four. Over three minutes behind the US in the overall classification, fourth placed Italy will need to lift their game during the final two days of racing should they wish to reach the podium. Holding on to fifth position, Spain complete the top five in the FIM World Trophy team competition. Sweeping all of the day’s six special tests, the French duo of Loic Larrieu – Husaberg and Mathias Bellino – Husaberg have helped France to extend their lead in the FIM Junior World Trophy team class to three minutes and thirteen seconds. Second fastest on day four, Italy have now established themselves in the runner-up position. Ending day four only eleven seconds behind the Italians, Great Britain complete the top three. With all four of their riders still left in the competition, the United States are fourth while Australia round out the top five.
Comfortably leading the FIM Women’s World Trophy team by ten minutes and forty two seconds, Australia moved one step closer to ending France’s five-year reign at the top of this class. Sweden and France completed the top three while Canada and Italy are placed fourth and fifth respectively.
In the Enduro 1 class, Spanish rider Cristobal Guerrero – KTM increased his lead to one minute and thirteen seconds with victory on day four. France’s Jeremy Joly – Honda was second with Spain’s Lorenzo Santolino – Husqvarna completing the top three. Italy’s Alex Salvini – Honda finally claimed his first day win of this year’s ISDE by taking the Enduro 2 class win on day four. Placing seven seconds behind the Italian, France’s Pierre Alexandre Renet – Husaberg was second with Australia’s Josh Strang – Suzuki third. Despite ending his day in fourth, Daniel Milner – Yamaha still retains the overall E2 class lead. Stamping his authority on day four, France’s Antoine Meo – KTM recorded victory in both the outright individual classification and the Enduro 3 category. Bellino ended his day as runner-up in E3 while Australia’s Christopher Hollis – KTM was third.