VOL. 51 ISSUE 42 OCTOBER 21, 2014 P107
test, which was laid out in a roll-
ing pasture with miles of ribbon.
Coincidentally, this was also the
first test they'd ride and Russell
set the tone for the weekend
by clocking five minutes and 14
seconds over the approximately
three-mile-long course aboard
his Motorex/Dunlop/Sidi-backed
350 XC-F. He'd go on to put in
the fastest time in three other
tests on Saturday, then three on
Sunday. His 35:59 and 36:13
days put him a remarkable 51
seconds ahead of his pursuers.
"I just tried to ride remember-
ing the stuff we worked on out in
Arizona [at the Team USA ISDE
Training Camp a couple months
ago]—the technique and rolling
through the corners," Russell
said. "I focused a lot on that. It
was definitely a good warm-up
for Six Days, because it's the
same type of racing."
The Aussies engaged in the
closest battle, both ending up
tied for second-fastest at the
end of Saturday with their shared
36:30. Milner pulled ahead
on Sunday on his second time
through the enduro test on his
FMF/Kenda/Fox YZ450F. That
proved to be the difference, Mil-
ner's time on Sunday a 36:33 to
the 36:39 Strang totaled aboard
his Yamalube/Cycra/Moose
YZ450F. Each rider set the fastest
time once during the weekend.
"This is what we race back
home so it does feel pretty much
natural to me," Milner said. "I'm
