2012 International Six Days Enduro
On day three of the 2012 FIM International Six Days Enduro (ISDE) in Saxony, Germany, the French squad continued to stretch their lead in the FIM World Trophy team classification while in the FIM Junior World Trophy team competition France took control of the proceedings to become the third different race leaders of the class in as many days.
Continuing the French dominance, France also extended their position as leaders of the FIM Women’s World Trophy team class.
It was another dominant day for France in the World Trophy team competition at the FIM ISDE. Showing no signs of slowing down, they stretched their lead to almost nineteen minutes. Led now by Antoine Meo – KTM, France are firmly fixed at the front of the standings with Meo, Pela Renet – Husaberg, Christophe Nambotin – KTM and Johnny Aubert – KTM also in control of the top four positions in the individual overall classification.
After three demanding days of racing, Australia holds a comfortable second place and head third placed Italy by nearly eight minutes. Day three proved to be a difficult one for Italy as Oscar Balletti – Beta was forced to retire. Despite the retirement of Balletti Italy remain ahead of fourth placed Spain by three minutes and twenty-four seconds. Benefiting from the retirement of Finland’s Juha Salminen – Husqvarna, USA ended the third day of competition in fifth.
For the third day in a row the FIM Junior World Trophy team competition saw a new race leader. Fighting hard to recover from their disappointing start to the event, France now top the standings. Overcoming a thirty-eight second deficit from day two, France hold a sizable one-minute and twenty-eight second lead over Great Britain. Although losing control of the race, Great Britain continue to impress in this year’s event and at the halfway point in the FIM ISDE enjoy almost a nine-minute advantage over USA.
In the FIM Women’s World Trophy team competition France extended their advantage. Headed by team leader Ludivine Puy – Gas Gas, they are now thirty-nine minutes clear of second placed Australia. However, with Germany ending day three as runner up to France, the home nation has now moved to within six minutes of Australia. Behind the top three nations Finland and Sweden completed the top five.
In the individual overall classification, Meo took his third straight day win of the event to extend his lead in the Enduro 1 class to two minutes and forty-five seconds. Behind him Finland’s Eero Remes – KTM remains in second position, while France’s Rodrig Thain – Honda moved into third. Untroubled at the front of the Enduro 2 category, Renet maintained his one-minute advantage over Aubert.
Placing one-minute and twenty-two seconds behind them, Italy’s Alex Salvini finished day three in third place. In the Enduro 3 class, Nambotin gradually improved his race lead to two minutes over Australia’s Toby Price – KTM, while Italy’s Manuel Monni – KTM overhauled Sweden’s Joakim Ljunggren – Husaberg to finish day three in third.
