Italy push clear of rivals on Day Four of 6DAYS® Italia

• Italy move closer to World Trophy win with Day Four victory
• France keep Junior World Trophy hopes alive
• Worrying injury for Josep Garcia as Andrea Verona secures Day Four win

With Day Four of the 6DAYS® FIM Enduro of Nations in Bergamo, Italy, bringing riders deeper into the race, a new course greeted the weary competitors. Loop Three – Val Seriana, considered the most challenging in this year’s 6DAYS® Italia, featured many historic passes and trails that make the Bergamo region famous for Enduro in Italy.

For Italy, Day Four was all about building on what they had achieved so far in the 6DAYS® Italia. Throughout the day’s seven special tests, the Italians extended their advantage from four minutes to six-minutes-and-thirty-seconds by the time they returned to the race paddock for the end-of-day service.

The biggest change of running order in the World Trophy competition saw Sweden overhaul France for second position. The Swedes chipped away at France’s advantage during the early part of the day, and as they exited the fourth special test, had worked their way in front. They head into the penultimate day of racing twenty-three seconds ahead of France in third.

“It’s been a great day for us, today,” told Sweden’s Mikael Persson (Triumph). “We were all riding strong and could pass France in the battle for second. We will try to keep going like this tomorrow.”

There was no change in the remainder of the top five, with Spain holding fourth and building their lead over the United States in fifth to one-minute. Australia are sixth, but only forty-three seconds behind the United States to ensure the fight for a place inside the top five remains alive.

Outside of the top six, Great Britain continued to hold onto seventh overall.

“We’ve been a little bit on the back foot starting out this year due to our overall placing from last year,” said Great Britain’s Dan Mundell (KTM). “Each day has been a bit up and down. The racing has been so tight, at times with only ten seconds separating ten riders. But we’ll keep digging deep and try to finish out the week as best we can.”

In the Junior World Trophy standings, Italy remains at the top of the standings, but as ever, the battle for the podium continues to be incredibly tight between the top three nations of Italy, France and Australia. On Day Four, France were once again on the attack and setting the pace.

During the opening lap, they hunted down Australia and overtook them for second place, all while closing in on Italy. After special test five of seven, France had Italy in their sights, with just thirty seconds between them. However, the Italians were able to respond, pulling their advantage back out to one-minute. France still managed to take the Day Four win, but it was bittersweet given that the positive work they had done earlier in the day was lost.

While eyes were on the top three nations, the United States and Spain were going head-to-head for fourth. After the second special test, Spain got a wheel in front of their rivals to take fourth, but the United States kept fighting back. Retaking the position, they will start Day Five with twelve seconds in hand over Spain in fifth.

Lying seventh behind Chile, defending champions Sweden remain focused on ensuring their young team of riders keep progressing in the 6DAYS® Italia.

“Today was a nice day, it was good to ride new tests as I had struggled with the Cross Tests, so more Enduro Tests were very welcome for me,” said Sweden’s Arvid Modin (Triumph). “The team had a better day too. This is Alfons Lindström’s first time in the 6DAYS®, so we are learning as a team all the time.”

Making it four day wins from four starts, the United States continue to lead the way in the MOTOREX Women’s World Trophy. Marching ever closer to their sixth 6DAYS® victory, they are now comfortably leading by over thirty-one minutes.

Australia are now back in front of France in the battle for the runner-up result. With France running into trouble, Australia moved ahead of their rivals and will start the penultimate day of racing with one-minute-and-six-seconds in hand.

Italy remain in fourth, with Great Britain fifth. Canada are behind them in sixth overall. With a first-ever special test win, Canada’s Shelby Turner (GASGAS) was happy with her riding and team’s progress.

“We’re doing well, sitting in sixth,” commented Turner. “For us, it’s all about getting through each day. The team is doing well and pushing on. I had a great day today, taking my first-ever test win in the 6DAYS® too.”

In the outright individual classification, Day Four resulted in Italy’s Andrea Verona (GASGAS) finally getting a win. The Italian was on a mission, taking four of the day’s seven special tests. However, it was the injury of Josep Garcia (KTM) that had many talking.

The Spaniard, who currently leads the way in the 6DAYS® Italia, suffered an injury to his right hand on the second special test. Despite obvious pain and discomfort, he was able to finish a remarkable four seconds behind Verona in second.

“Day Four has been good,” told Verona. “I rode the first three tests really well, but I didn’t ride the fourth one very well because I forgot where I was going! After that I recovered and finished strong. Today, I felt like I had more grip and confidence to push a little more. So I’m happy with this, and with a repeat of tests tomorrow, I hope for another good result.”

Behind Verona and Garcia, it was another strong day for Sweden’s Mikael Persson (Triumph), who finished in third. Italy’s Samuele Bernardini (Honda) ended his day two seconds behind Persson in fourth, with Sweden’s Albin Norrbin (Fantic) taking fifth to help cement a strong Day Four for the Swedes.

Soldering on through injury, Garcia showed remarkable resilience to win the Enduro1 class and maintain his overall lead in the category. Persson was second, with Bernardini third.

Thanks to his overall victory, Verona claimed the Day Four win in the Enduro2 class. Norrbin chased him home for second, while Australia’s Kyron Bacon (Kawasaki) beat the United States’ Jonathan Girroir (KTM) by one-second to take third.

The Enduro3 class saw France claim a one-two result with Julien Roussaly (Sherco) this time taking victory over Leo Le Quere (TM MOTO). In the fight for third, Italian’s Kevin Cristino (Fantic) beat Australia’s Josh Strong by just four-hundredths-of-a-second.

The Women’s category saw the United States’ Brandy Richards (KTM) return to the top of the leaderboard. She took the win by ten seconds over her teammate Korie Steede (Husqvarna). Another top-three ride by Australia’s Danielle McDonald (Yamaha) saw her finish in third.

In the Club Team Award class, the top three positions remain unchanged, with MC Italia A still leading the way over Team Rabaconda and BBM – Racing Time in second and third, respectively. Gottbros Team continue to lead the Veteran Club Team, with Motosport Bozkov 2 and Team Canada – Veteran completing the top three. Randy Mastin Memorial leads the Women’s Club Team.