2017 France ISDE Day 1 Results: USA Trouble as French Take Lead

Husqvarna's Ryan Sipes on Day 1, 2017 ISDE France
Husqvarna's Ryan Sipes

2017 France ISDE Day 1 Results

The 92nd running of the FIM International Six Days Enduro got underway Monday in Brive, France.

Team USA is the reigning Champion of the World Trophy class; last season in Navarra, Spain, USA riders Kailub Russell and Taylor Robert, both on KTM machinery, helped the team claim victory by nearly four minutes ahead of Great Britain, and 26 minutes ahead of the Czech Republic.

But things got off to a bad start at the 2017 ISDE for Team USA; its FIM World Trophy rider Thad Duvall crashed during Monday’s opening special test of the 155-mile day.

The Husqvarna pilot suffered a bad injury to his left wrist, forcing him to retire from 2017 ISDE.

Husqvarna's Ryan Sipes on Day 1, 2017 ISDE France
Husqvarna’s Ryan Sipes

This left the Team USA World Trophy class (Ryan Sipes, Husqvarna; Kailub Russell, KTM; Taylor Robert, KTM; Duvall, Husqvarna) down in 16th after day one; with one of four riders sidelined, Team USA’s total time of the day was 4:56:42.78.

The three non-injured Americans all performed respectively in the 38- to 39-minute range, and if Duvall didn’t crash they’d likely be in the overall top three for 2017 France ISDE Day 1.