Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

Inter-national Six-Day Endur-o Tr-ois Pr-ovince Hall ing them up, showing them just where we want them to take off, pointing out the good lines to them, and they're doing itl I think we're getting a little momentum here." Misfortune was brewing even as he spoke, however, as Pat Garrahan was out on the trail, suffering his tire problems. He had gotten through the four special tests for the day without trouble (the enduro test for the day had been canceled), but Garrahan's major problem was getting back to the finish, which turned out to be impossible. He spent the rest of the week watching tests and chase-riding for his brother Brian. Suzy Moody also had a terrible day, riding for the all-woman Daytona Dirt Riders club team with Amanda Mastin and Nicole Bradford. Moody, who was riding quite aggressively at the time, crashed hard on the course and suffered internal injuries. She was taken to a hospital, where she underwent emergency surgery to repair abdominal bleeding, spent two days in intensive care and the rest of the week in the hospital before being transported home. The U.S. Trophy team fmished the day in 10th place, as did the Junior • Trophy team. Only Pat Garrahan had trouble the first day; the rest of the riders, both Junior and Trophy, were riding consistently but unable to match the scores of the fastest European riders. It was no surprise to have France in the Trophy team lead, but it was a real kick to see the Australians in second, although a minute back. The Aussies were working hard and had a team of good riders, and could possibly move up. Anything can happen in Six Days, though the Finnish Trophy Team had won two classes, but their 125cc rider, Petri Pohjamo, had crashed on the way back to town and fractured a collarbone, although he .finished the day. Both Samuli Aro and Petteri Silvan had problems that cost them whole minutes and forced the Finnish team, the most intimidating team in recent Six Days competition, down to ninth at the end of the day. There are no guarantees in the ISDEI Sweden held down the Junior team ranks, with a class win by their 125cc rider, Niklas Gustavsson, but the Italians and the French finished close behind, and they were both coming on strong. OAVTWO Though tlte trail schedules in Franee were generally makeable, that doesn't mean titer were easy. Jonathan Seehom rode a KTM for club team Desert Me. The second day's course was a repeat of day one's, which meant another long slog into the countryside for riders and support personnel alike. Days one and two were easily the most spread out of the Six Days. To drive from the start area in Brive to the second special test took nearly an hour and a half on back-country roads. To the riders, the dry trail 180 miles of it on day one, and nine hours in the saddle - and the special tests were getting beaten up badly. Holes, ruts, whoops and rocks were making the trail much more punishing and would soon take a toll on a number of machines. So far, the riders were hanging tough. Nick Pearson improved his times and finished the day 17th in class. "This is my first Six Days, and I didn't quite know what to expect," Nick said. "I spent the last two years chase-riding for Russ, but 1 still didn't want to make any mistakes or do anything stupid. I think 1 was a little hesitant the first couple of tests; I felt a little stiff, but the day progressed and I loosened up. There's a lot of road. There was only one section today that was kind of tight and rocky, but you just had to take your. time and not make any mistakes, like not mash your pipe or anything. The trail was pretty easy." The American teams in general loosened up and improved their times, and our Trophy team moved from 10th to ninth. There was no change in 40 SEPTEMBER 19, 2001 • cue • e n e _ lIS Despite riding In the back of the pack with tlte club riders, Briton Paul Edmondson had a strong ride going until getting busted on tit. final day for running a nonregulation front tire. position for the top three in the Junior Trophy teams, and the American team stayed in 10th for the day. The Swedes and the Finns gathered their considerable strength together and attacked on the second day, pushing the French farther down the podium and reminding everyone who usually owns the Six Days. The Finns really floored it, winning three classes - 250cc Two-Stroke, 400cc and 500cc. Their performance moved them from ninth to fifth, while the Swedes moved from third to first. Shane Watts rallied to win the 125cc class on day two, making up for a slow start the day before, when he finished fifth in the class. Stefan Merriman still finished second in the 400cc class; in a repeat of day one, he was only 1.5 seconds away from Finn Juha Salminen. Even so, the performance of the Swedes pushed them down to third, while the French team dropped to second by day's end. Another American champion was circulating around almost anonymously. AMA National Hare Scram~ bles champ Paul Edmondson was riding for a British club team, far in the back of the pack, along with the rest

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