Day three – France remain out front in World Trophy and Junior World Trophy competition. Now firmly placed as the overall leaders of the FIM World Trophy team competition, France have increased their lead to eight minutes and forty three seconds as the Centennial edition of the FIM International Six Days Enduro (ISDE) reaches its midway point. On day three, day two’s course was ridden in reverse. But with only one new special test offering fresh terrain, the extremely rough and dusty conditions again took their toll as riders battled fatigue and exhaustion. With three of their six-man team ending day three inside the top four of the overall individual classification, France now hold a comfortable lead over their nearest challengers – the United States. Helped in part by two top ten results from Charlie Mullins – KTM and Taylor Robert – Kawasaki, the US have moved up to second position. But with only eighteen seconds separating them from third placed Australia they cannot afford to relax on day four.
Behind the leading two nations, Australia are third. Following their strong start to the ISDE, Australia endured a day of mixed fortunes. Team leader Daniel Milner – Yamaha secured his second day win of the week while Matt Phillips –Husqvarna dropped out of the event due to a mechanical issue. With only five riders now left in the event, Australia cannot afford any further mistakes should they wish to repeat their runner-up result from 2012. Improving throughout the day, Italy are still fourth, but now just over two minutes from climbing onto the podium. Spain are placed fifth.
With Loic Larrieu – Husaberg and Mathias Bellino – Husaberg setting the fastest Junior times in five of the day’s six special tests, France extend their lead in the FIM Junior World Trophy team competition. They now hold a one minute and fifty three second advantage over host nation Italy. With Italy’s three riders Giacomo Redondi – KTM, Nicolo Mori – Beta and Gianluca Martini – Beta all performing strongly, the Italians have edged further away from Great Britain in third. Behind Great Britain, the United States and Sweden are fourth and fifth respectively.
Edging ever closer to their debut ISDE victory, Australia increased their advantage in the FIM Women’s World Trophy classification to almost nine minutes over Sweden. Performing strongly, Swede Jessica Jonsson – Gas Gas was the best-placed woman competitor on day three. Trailing Australia by over twenty-two minutes, France are still third
overall. Canada and Italy complete the top five.
In the Enduro 1 class, Spain’s Cristobal Guerrero – KTM claimed his second consecutive day win. Italy’s Thomas Oldrati – Husaberg edged out fellow countryman Giacomo Redondi – KTM by four seconds to place as runner-up. Recording his second outright victory in the overall classification, Milner was fastest in the Enduro 2 class. He beat runner-up Pela Renet – Husaberg of France by twenty-eight seconds, while Renet’s teammate Johnny Aubert – KTM was third. Ending his day just eight tenths of a second behind Milner, France’s Antoine Meo – KTM secured the Enduro 3 class win. Bellino was second with Australia’s Mathias Bellino – Husaberg completing the top three. Day four will see riders complete a new course and special tests.
