The ninety-sixth edition of the FIM International Six Days of Enduro (ISDE) is up and running, with Spain out to an early World Trophy team lead on Day One in Le Puy-En-Velay, France.
It was down to the serious business of racing for the competitors from thirty-two nations in this year’s FIM ISDE. Glorious sunshine greeted those with an early start time this morning as they left the start ramp for the first time.
Immediately setting the pace, Spain’s Josep Garcia (KTM) hit the front by setting the quickest time on the first of the day’s five special tests. The KTM rider was not hanging about today and went on to dominate all five tests.
Strong support from his teammates ensured Spain would lead the World Trophy classification by twenty-two seconds at the end of Day One.
“I won every test today, so it has been a great start to the week,” told Garcia at the end of Day One. “I just tried to be smart with my riding and push at a comfortable level. I’m happy to have put a result in like that on Day One.
“Overall, it is brilliant to lead the World Trophy classification with Spain. We are really motivated for this and want to do our country proud.”
While Spain carved out an early lead, behind them Italy and Great Britain are separated by just fractions of a second. Italy, in second place, are just three hundredths of a second in front of Great Britain.
A further four seconds behind Great Britain are the United States in fourth. The United States figure highly in the overall individual results and will look to close that gap to Italy and Great Britain on Day Two.
Home favourites France got their FIM ISDE off to a solid start on Day One, finishing fifth overall. However, they are already one minute behind leaders Spain and will need to fight back tomorrow.
Positions sixth to tenth are a little more spread out. Bolstered by Mikael Persson (Husqvarna) ending his day in third overall, Sweden are sixth.
Australia and Belgium ended day one in seventh and eighth respectively. Completing the top ten World Trophy nations are Finland and Poland.
