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/1477536
America Aims High at 96th ISDE I t's often tough to beat the home team at the FIM International Six Days Enduro (ISDE), especially when a powerhouse like France hosts what is the oldest off-road world championships on the FIM calendar. We saw that last year in Italy with the home country's best walking away with both the FIM World Trophy (WT) and Junior World Trophy (JWT) categories. But the U.S. team has proven it can beat the odds and take top honors in any category, and its hopes are high for the 96th edi- tion of the ISDE. The Americans are among the highest profile riders of the approximately 650 entered who come from 34 countries. Not all of those countries field teams in the elite WT/JWT/WWT (Wom- en's World Trophy) divisions; the bulk of entries comprise the 150 three-man Club teams, though there are several individuals representing their countries not linked to any team. Last year, the U.S. WT team finished third. This year's squad of Layne Michael, Dante Oliveira, Kailub Russell and Josh Toth aim to do one or two better as they battle 21 other teams entered. America's JWT team also earned third last year, and this year's trio of Cody Barnes, Mateo Oliveira and Austin Walton plan to best that as they face teams from 15 other countries. Of course, the brightest spot last year for the U.S. proved to be its WWT team led by Brandy Richards who achieved a historic first by winning every single test every single day. She's back this year to see if she can come close to if not repeat that perfor- mance and will be joined by fel- low returnee Rachel Gutish and first-timer Korie Steede as they aim to best eight other teams. Of the 130 three-man Club teams entered, seven are from the U.S. In numerical order, they are Team GBTN (Jaden Dahners, Anson Maloney, Travis Reynaud), XC Gear (Kai Aiello, Craig De- Long, Tyler Vore), Missouri Mud- ders (Chase Bright, Huck Jen- kins, Nathan Rector), Elizabeth Scott Community (John Beal, Jeff O'Leary, Shawn O'Leary), Mo- joMotoSport (Josh Chassaing, Anthony Ferrante, Shane Sieben- thall), Eric Cleveland Memorial (David Fullmer, Benjamin Knight, Gary Smith) and Wes Haber- mehl/Bruce Wakeley Memorial (Jonathan McDougal, Jonathan Seehorn, Brian Storrie). Day One Day one is now in the books and last year's overall individual winner Josep Garcia of Spain is leading the way. Continuing the form he displayed brilliantly last year—as well as in this year's EnduroGPs—Garcia won all five special tests on a beautiful day in the French countryside, tal- lying an aggregate time of 32 IN THE WIND P28 Spain's Josep Garcia, last year's overall individual winner, is the top individual rider after the first day of competition. PHOTOS: MARK KARIYA