Almost 70 years since their last victory, the team from Britain have won the 2022 FIM International Six Days Enduro (ISDE) World Trophy team competition at Le Puy-En-Velay, in southern France.
New Zealand finished 16th and 4th overall in the World Trophy and Junior World Trophy Team (under-23) categories respectively – not bad for a country being represented at the ISDE for the first time in 16 years.
However, drawing to a close an exceptional week of racing, it was the four-rider Trophy Team from Britain that crossed the finish line in Le Puy-En-Velay as the ISDE World Champions.
It was a landmark victory, making it the first time they have won the World Trophy competition since 1953, while also adding to the Women’s World Trophy victory, secured earlier in the day by Britain.
In a dramatic turn of fortune, Italy clinched the vice-champion position in the final moments of the final motocross test. With team leader Andrea Verona (GasGas) winning Day Six, the Italians beat Spain to the runner-up result by an incredible five tenths of one second after almost 13 hours of racing over the six days.
Entering the sixth and final day of racing on the cusp of victory, Britain faced a nervous wait for their turn to race the final motocross test, late in the afternoon. With a four minute and 22-second lead over closest rivals Spain, they were all but assured of a World Trophy victory, but still needed a trouble-free ride to claim the win.
With all four riders – Nathan Watson (Honda), Steve Holcombe (Beta), Jamie McCanney (Husqvarna) and Jed Etchells (Fantic) – contesting the final race of the day, everyone held their collective breath as the start gate dropped. Safely through lap one inside the top 20, they settled into the race.
After 11 intense laps, all four riders were home and dry and the celebrations could finally begin, the men from Britain were now ISDE World Trophy champions.
“It is an incredible feeling to win the FIM ISDE,” said Britain’s Nathan Watson (Honda). “It’s a long time since 1953 when Britain last won, so it is a big honour for us to do it.
“We prepared well, came with a strong team and got the job done. We were consistent all week, winning multiple days and being there when it counts.
“We’re massively proud of what we achieved today. It’s a real team effort both on and off the track to get this result. So, a big thank you to everyone supporting us along the way!”
With Britain, Italy, and Spain completing this year’s ISDE World Trophy podium, it was host nation France who took fourth, with the United States in fifth.
Meanwhile, Spain’s Josep Garcia (KTM, pictured above) finished up as top individual overall at this year’s ISDE.
Days one and two saw riders tackle the same loop, with each day comprising five special tests ridden against the clock. Days three and four shared a second loop, with Friday delivering new terrain and another 200-kilometer route, testing the weary competitors to their limits.
As per ISDE tradition, a final motocross test saw riders race head-to-head before reaching the event’s chequered flag.
Garcia made the absolute best possible start to his individual title defence by not only winning day one, but posting the fastest time on all five special tests.
Garcia all but repeated that feat on day two, winning four tests and coming second in the other. At the close of the second day, the KTM rider had already built a 45-second lead over his nearest rival, Italy’s Andrea Verona (GasGas).
Day three didn’t start in the best way for Garcia, as he tangled with a tree in the very first test, which resulted in an open wound in his left arm.
Despite the injury, he was still able to clock the second-quickest time for the test and carried on regardless. An unrelated crash in the fifth and final test cost Garcia the 10 seconds he needed to win his third day in a row, and as a result, he had to settle for second.
Back to his best on day four, Garcia went fastest in all five tests, increasing his overall lead in the individual standings. An impressive ride on day five saw him top all but one of the tests, narrowly missing out on another day win by a mere 0.04 seconds!
Entering Saturday’s final motocross test, Garcia enjoyed a near one-minute advantage over his rivals.
A strong start saw the 25-year-old get out in front where he stayed until lap five when a small mistake saw him drop down to second. Fighting hard for the remaining laps, Garcia narrowed the gap to the leader but settled for second, safely crossing the line to secure his second consecutive individual overall ISDE win.
“It feels amazing to get the win at the Six Days again,” said Garcia afterwards.
“My week has been amazing! I came into this year’s event with the goal of giving my all on every single day and trying to make a bit of a gap before the final day.
“I wasn’t able to win every day and it’s true I didn’t ride a completely faultless race – I did make a couple of mistakes including injuring my arm on day three – but I stayed focused and managed to finish on Friday around one minute ahead.
“With the Six Days you can’t take anything for granted so I knew I still had to have a good motocross race to take the win. After a great start I got out in front and knew I just had stay there without making any mistakes to get the win. I had a small crash in one of the corners and that cost me the lead, but I was able to get going and finish second.
“It also feels great to get on the World Trophy podium with Team Spain, we had such a good team this year, and everyone has worked so hard.
“Of course it’s disappointing to miss out on second by just half a second after such a tough week, but the important thing is we gave 100% every day and we’ll be back next year to fight for the win.”
With the 96th edition of the ISDE complete in France, attention will soon turn to the 97th edition in San Juan, Argentina in November 2023.
Check back here tomorrow when we give you more of an insight into how the riders from New Zealand fared at the 2022 ISDE.
Photo courtesy KTM
Visit the official site for the 2022 ISDE by clicking HERE
Find BikesportNZ.com on FACEBOOK here