International Six Days Enduro
With only the sixth and final day of the eighty-sixth FIM International Six Days Enduro (ISDE) remaining Finland’s World Trophy team riders Eero Remes (KTM), Juha Salminen (Husqvarna), Matti Seistola (Husqvarna), Jari Mattila (KTM), Valtteri Salonen (TM) and Marko Tarkkala (Husaberg) look certain to claim victory.
Extending their ISDE lead over second placed Spain to a massive twenty-seven minutes, all team riders made it to the end of the fifth day without problems setting themselves up perfectly for their assault on the final day motocross races.
Enjoying the best weather of the event, day five was also one all riders were pleased to see the end as it signified the end of a long, hard week. With one of the day’s special tests canceled due to it being too rough to use following the heavy rain on day four, there were no major surprises in the World Trophy, Junior Trophy or Women’s Cup classes.
All but assured the win in the World Trophy ISDE team competition Finland delivered yet another first class performance to keep themselves ahead of Spain. The US Trophy team remain in third, helped by another strong performance from Enduro 2 class riders Kurt Caselli (KTM) while Sweden, The Netherlands and Germany remain fourth, fifth and sixth respectively.
Moving to the top of the Junior World Trophy ISDE class at the end of the fourth day France extended their lead to end day five more than twelve minutes ahead of Sweden. Although down to three riders the Swedish youngsters delivered a spirited performance and remain ahead of Great Britain, the USA, Australia and Spain.
Continuing their dominance of the Women’s Cup Ludivine Puy (Gas Gas), Blandine Dufrene (Gas Gas) and Juliette Berez (TM) ensured France remain ahead of the rest and start the final day more than one-hour ahead of Finland with Australia third and Sweden fourth.
Finnish riders filled the top three places in the Enduro 1 class with Eero Remes, Juha Salminen and Finnish Junior Trophy team rider Antti Hellsten (KTM) leading the way. In the progressive E1 results Remes sits comfortably ahead of Salminen, with now close to one-and-a-half minutes advantage, with Spain’s Lorenzo Santolino (KTM) third.
Portugal’s Luis Correia (Yamaha) was the day’s ISDE big winner in the Enduro 2 class as the Portuguese rider claimed his first class win of the event. Placing eleven seconds up on Kurt Caselli the two riders were chased hard by Australian Toby Price (KTM), who claimed third ahead of French junior Mathias Bellino (Husaberg).
Making it five day wins from five starts Finland’s Marko Tarkkala topped the Enduro 3 class, twenty-seven seconds ahead of Spain’s Ivan Cervantes (Gas Gas). With the day including just four special tests Marko topped them all. Behind Cervantes, Valtteri Salonen (TM) placed third with British junior rider Jonny Walker (KTM) fourth. In the progressive E3 results Tarkkala holds a three-minute advantage ahead of Cervantes and Valtteri Salonen.
2011 International Six Days Enduro Day 5 Results:
(Finland – Aug. 8-13 – Results after Day 5)
World Trophy
1. Finland 15.54:36.47
2. Spain 16.21:52.31
3. USA 16.46:11.58
4. Sweden 16.58:29.50
5. Netherlands 17.10:57.40
Junior Trophy
1. France 9.59:38.45
2. Sweden 10.11:58.79
3. Great Britain 10.17:20.34
4. USA 10.45:09.05
5. Australia 10.51:24.01
Women’s Cup
1. France 10.21:08.54
2. Finland 11.33:30.45
3. Australia 14.41:56.36
4. Sweden 14.48:22.62
5. USA 20.00:00.00