Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1183666
IN THE WIND P38 ISDE Ready To Rumble H opes run high for many teams on the eve of the 94th FIM International Six Days Enduro (ISDE) in the seaside city of Algarve on the south coast of Portugal. Defending FIM World Trophy team cham- pion Australia (with riders Josh Green, last-minute fill-in Matty Phillips, Daniel "Chucky" Sanders [the only returnee from last year's squad] and Luke Styke) are determined to repeat last year's winning run, though it faces formidable opposition in the usual European suspects as well as a strong American squad (Steward Baylor, Taylor Robert, Kailub Russell and Ryan Sipes) that finished second in Chile last year. "I think we have a really strong team and a good shot at win- ning," Russell said. "We just need to have luck on our side and hopefully everybody stays healthy and the bikes stay to- gether and we keep motivated." Italy's Junior World Trophy-win- ning trio returns with newcom- ers Claudio Spano and Matteo Pavoni joining returnee Andrea Verona—recently crowned Enduro Junior World Champion as well as last year's E1-class winner—but they will face three Americans (Grant Baylor, Ben Kelley and Josh Toth) at the top of their game and coming off a second-place finish in Chile. Defending Women's World Trophy champion Australia re- turns for a possible seventh con- secutive championship with the same three that won last year— Jessica Gardiner, Tayla Jones and Mackenzie Tricker—but the U.S. threesome of late call-up Tarah Gieger, Brandy Richards and Becca Sheets is on form and anxious to rail the many special tests they'll face over the next six days. Despite not participating in the ISDE training camp, third-year team member Gieger doesn't feel any less prepared since she was able to race the Enduro World Championship rounds. She's on the same team that claimed second last year, even besting winner Australia on one day late in the week. "I think, going in, we're a lot better pre- pared," she said. "I can't believe it's been a year since we were in Chile already! "Here, there's good diversity and good layout, and we're really all excited about the sand [tests] at the beginning of the week, which we didn't get in Chile. Brandy's so fast in the sand and I think I can do all right in the sand. It'll be interesting to see if we can put some pressure on [Australia]." Mark Kariya Conditions are expected to be dusty. Robert Pearce helps the American teams prep air filters. PHOTO: MARK KARIYA