Spain’s Josep Garcia starts this year’s FIM International Six Days of Enduro (ISDE) in France as one of the heavy favourites for victory. He won the event outright as an individual in 2021 and his form to date in 2022 suggests he is on target to do it again.
Fighting for top honours in the FIM EnduroGP World Championship, he has won four days. An injury has prevented him for challenging for the title, but his most recent double victory at the GP of Hungary shows that he is fit, healthy and peaking at just the right time for the FIM ISDE in France.
“I’m excited to get back to the FIM ISDE,” says Garcia. “It’s always a yearly highlight of mine and, well, after winning it in 2021 I’m looking forward to racing it again.”
“Every time you go to a race like this the goal is always the same. I want to win. It’s the FIM ISDE after all, the biggest single enduro of the year. Of course you want to win the race that everyone is watching!”
Winning races but breaking bones has ensured 2022 not going quite to plan. Returning from injury takes time to reboot confidence. But if anything can help Josep arrive in France peaking, his success in Hungary will.
“This year has been a little strange, but also very good at the same time. In the World Championship my speed has been good. I’ve been pushing for wins, but of course my injury derailed my hopes of racing for the title. I did come back and win both days in Hungary, so that’s actually come as some really positive motivation heading into France.”
An attraction for riders all across the world is that a country like France prides themselves on doing enduro very well. Building special tests is an art form for them and Josep can’t wait to ride them.
“I think France will deliver a special kind of race. They are like the originators of enduro, in that they do it very well. They know how to put on a race.”
“I enjoy the style of special tests that we normally get in France too. They are very classic enduro. Generally they flow nice and are a lot of fun to ride. They say there will be a lot of tests too. That will make them difficult to remember, but it might also be a good thing. More tests means we repeat them less, so they might not get so badly beaten up.”
While the focus has been on Josep’s individual performance, the FIM ISDE is very much a team race too. Incredibly Spain have yet to win, can Josep see that changing in 2022?
“As a team I think we can do quite well,” prides Josep. “Everyone has a strong level in the world championship and we’ve a good mix of talent and experience. Not just in the riders, but in the staff and everyone helping. Spain has never won this race – I would love to help change that.”
The FIM International Six Days of Enduro takes place in Le Puy-en-Velay, France from 29 August to 3 September.
