France have placed a virtual hand on the FIM World Trophy as they claimed victory on the penultimate day of competition at the FIM International Six Days Enduro (ISDE) in Olbia, Sardinia. The six rider French team now enters the final day with a fourteen-minute lead over the United States. In the FIM Women’s World Trophy race, Australia are just one day away from winning with only the final motocross remaining. France also hold a strong lead in the World Junior Trophy category. While France have remained consistent throughout the week-long event, the fight for the remaining positions in the World Trophy class continue to be as unpredictable as ever. After working their way up to second at the end of day four, Australia – who only have five riders left in the race – endured a difficult penultimate day. With team member Glenn Kearney – Husqvarna running into problems, they slipped back to fourth overall – ending their hopes of a podium result. Benefiting from Australia’s misfortune, the United States move back up to second position.

Holding a three minute and forty second lead over third placed Italy, USA are now favourites to secure the runnerup result. After a difficult week of racing, Italy have worked their way back into podium contention. Third, and with over four minutes in hand over Australia, the Italians look set to secure a top three result on home turf. With Australia disappointingly dropping back to fourth, Spain complete the top five in the FIM World Trophy team class.
Now almost six minutes clear of their nearest rivals, France are also the firm favourites for top honors in the FIM Junior World Trophy class. Setting the fastest Junior time in all six of the day’s special tests, Mathias Bellino – Husaberg led home his French team on day five. With another strong showing from Italy, Giacomo Redondi – KTM, Rudi Moroni – KTM, Nicolo Mori – Beta and Gianluca Martini – Beta look certain of ending the centennial year of the ISDE as runner-up to France. Third overall, and with a six minute and thirty-five second advantage over the United States, Great Britain are third. Completing the top five, the US and Sweden are fourth and fifth respectively.
Showing no signs of slowing down, the Australian trio of Jessica Gardiner – Sherco, Tayla Jones – KTM and Jemma Wilson – Yamaha extended their lead in the FIM Women’s World Trophy team classification to twelve minutes and twenty six seconds over Sweden. With just one day left to race, they are favourites to win. Sweden are second overall with France in third. Canada and Italy complete the top five.
In the Enduro 1 class, it was Spain’s Lorenzo Santolino – Husqvarna that topped the classification for the first time this week. Italy’s Thomas Oldrati – Husaberg finished just two seconds behind Santolino in second with Cristobal Guerrero – KTM a further one second back in third. Ending his day second overall in the outright classification, Italy’s Alex Salvini – Honda won the Enduro 2 class. Holding off third placed Johnny Aubert – KTM, Pierre Alexandre Renet – Husaberg was second. Securing another dominant win in the Enduro 3 class, Antoine Meo – KTM beat his nearest rival Bellino by almost forty-four seconds while also recording the outright win on day five. Michael Brown – KTM was third.