As the NOCO 6DAYS® fast approaches, the United States ready themselves to defend both the FIM World Trophy and FIM Women’s World Trophy at the ninety-eighth edition of the FIM International Six Days of Enduro (ISDE) in Galicia, Spain.
Despite only winning their debut FIM World Trophy in 2016, when coincidently the FIM ISDE was last held in Spain, the United States have since become a powerhouse of world enduro, thanks to three victories in the last eight years.
They have also won the FIM Women’s World Trophy three times since 2016, along with taking multiple podium results across all three FIM World Trophy categories, including the FIM Junior World Trophy.
For 2024, the defending FIM World Trophy champions are among the heavy favourites for victory in Galicia, despite a couple of changes to their rider line-up from last year.
After announcing the NOCO 6DAYS® in San Juan, Argentina, would be his last outing as a professional rider, FIM ISDE stalwart Taylor Robert is replaced by Craig Delong (Husqvarna), with both Dante Oliveira (KTM) and Johnny Girroir (KTM) remaining onboard. Racing to the outright victory in last year’s FIM Club Team Award, Josh Toth (GASGAS) makes a welcome step up to the FIM World Trophy for 2024.
“We are coming off a stellar result from last year, and our team is striving to repeat the success again this year,” commented United States Team Manager Antti Kallonen on the recent announcement of their line-up for 2024.
“Once again, I’m pleased we are able to bring the best riders to the race, and they all have the same specific goal in mind. These riders should excel in the conditions we will see in Spain this October. It was eight years ago when USA won their first World Trophy title in Spain, so we have a good feeling heading into this year’s event.”
As defending champions of the FIM Women’s World Trophy category, they also boast a super-competitive line-up in Brandy Richards (KTM), Korie Steede (Husqvarna) and Rachel Gutish (Sherco) who finished second place in the FIM Women’s Enduro World Championship. All three riders have represented the United States for the past two years, with Richards a three-time winner in 2019, 2021 and 2023, while Gutish helped the United States top the podium in 2021 and 2023.
In San Juan, their dominance was unmatched, riding to victory by an astonishing six hours and forty-seven minutes. Naturally, Galicia will bring new challenges, with the recent dusty editions most likely replaced by rain. Although with the defending champions fielding such an experienced team, it will be hard to bet against them in Spain.
“We’ve got the same team line-up as last year,” said Gutish. “I feel the one big strength we have over other nations is that we’ve got three fast riders with solid experience in a race like this. Brandy and Korrie are awesome, there’s no one else I’d rather go with to the FIM ISDE.”
Spectators will be granted free access to the paddock incorporating the NOCO Parc Fermé, opening ceremony, special tests days one to five, whilst the admission fee for the Final Cross Test will also include entry to the GAS GAS 6DAYS® party complete with two free drinks.
If you cannot be there in person, FIM-MOTO.TV will be exclusively live streaming the final cross test on all days. The same programme will also welcome the top-ranking riders and nations who will participate in the 6DAYS MOTUL Studio Show as they return to the NOCO Parc Fermé in Silleda. This show will be hosted by motocross legend Paul Malin, who will provide live insights from the day’s racing and conduct interviews with the riders in a special studio set up inside the NOCO Parc Fermé. Access to this streaming service will be available at the special price of 6€ to stream live the 6DAYS (Live streaming day 1 to day 5). Detailed information about the live streaming will be published on FIM-MOTO.TV in the coming weeks on the dedicated 6DAYS page: https://fim-moto.tv/fim_isde.
All in all, the ninety-eighth edition of the NOCO FIM 6DAYS® in Galicia, Spain from 14-19 October, is shaping up to be a not to be missed event!