The Kiwis continue to push hard at the 2024 International Six Days Enduro in Spain, Team New Zealand’s Women’s World Trophy Team class now eighth overall after Day Two.
The official three-rider Women’s World Trophy Team (WWT) from New Zealand comprises Te Awamutu’s Rachael Archer (Kawasaki), Opunake’s Taylar Rampton (Husqvarna) and Tapanui’s Kylie Dorr (Beta), representing an historic first campaign by the Kiwis in the WWT class of this massive international competition.
Individually, Archer is ranked 3rd in the 11-nation WWT class (and 94th overall alongside the men) after Day Two, while Rampton is 20th (125th overall) and Dorr is 31st (136th overall).
The women’s classification saw the United States’ Brandy Richards (KTM) make it two wins from two starts in this year’s ISDE.
A close battle behind her resulted in New Zealand’s Rachael Archer beating Spain’s enduro world champion Mireia Badia (Rieju) by three seconds for the runner-up position on Day Two.
Meanwhile, the United States won the WWT class overall on day two.
The WTT classification saw the United States win on day two to double their lead to 2m 29s over Australia in second.
Third-placed Sweden slipped further behind the leading two nations but have established a firm 10-minute advantage over France in fourth. Spain maintained their gap over Great Britain to close out the top five in fifth.
In the premier World Trophy (WT) class, France claimed the win to extend their overall race lead to more than four minutes, as host nation Spain moved up to second.
After a dramatic opening day at the 98th edition of the ISDE, which saw Italy and Great Britain exit the WT race, competitors settled into racing for Day Two.
A wet start to the morning ensured slippery and muddy conditions for those first to arrive at the early special tests at Day Two of this 98th edition of the ISDE.
But as the more than 500 competitors completed lap one of two of the Santiago loop, the afternoon’s conditions proved drier and more predictable.
Beginning Day Two with a two-minute lead in the WT standings over the United States, France was determined to build on its advantage throughout the day.
Completing test three to end lap one, France was out to an overall lead of more than three minutes, with Spain now charging hard in second and gradually moving further ahead of the United States. A perfect final lap from the French saw them take the win on Day Two to lead the ISDE by 4m 14s over Spain.
Spain will be pleased with its efforts on Day Two to move into second, while defending champion nation the United States will hope to regroup for Day Three.
Australia remains unchanged in fourth and are now more than 12 minutes behind France in the classification, with the Czech Republic fifth.
Always a welcome nation at the ISDE, Canada sits just outside the top 10 in 11th. Led by Tyler Medaglia (Honda), their goal is to keep fighting and climb up the leaderboard as the week progresses.
“It’s been a physical two days so far,” said Medaglia at the end of day two. “There’s been a lot of tree stumps, rocks and roots to deal with on the special tests, and the transfers are so wet in places too.
“The ISDE has started with a bang. It’s cool to be out here racing with the best. My goal is to fight for a top-10 time on the special tests where I can and help Canada to finish inside the top 10.”
Meanwhile, Britain’s Steve Holcombe (Honda) edged out Spain’s Josep Garcia (KTM, pictured above) for individual Day Two honours.
In the overall individual classification, the ISDE was treated to a thrilling battle between Garcia and Holcombe.
Holcombe came out charging and won the opening two tests, before Garcia responded with the fastest time on tests three and four. Winning the final test, Holcombe claimed the Day Two win by just 2s over Garcia.
Italy’s Kevin Cristino (Fantic) put in an incredible ride to finish third overall, and best-placed Junior World Trophy rider.
“I’m delighted to get the win on day two,” said Holcombe. “I got off to a great start this morning, but then made a couple of mistakes on the penultimate cross test and lost some time. I went all-in on the final test and was able to pull the victory out of the bag.”
Despite losing the overall, Garcia still topped Enduro1 by an astonishing 55s over France’s Theo Espinasse (Beta), with the United States’ Grant Davis (KTM) third.
Holcombe rode clear to a commanding 1m 7s victory in Enduro2 over Sweden’s Max Ahlin (KTM). Australia’s Jonte Reynders (Sherco) completed the top three on Day Two.
Thanks to his overall results, Cristino put his Fantic on top of Enduro3 on Day Two. Fellow Italian Matteo Cavallo (TM) placed third, with just half a second separating him from Belgium’s Antoine Magain (Sherco) in third.
Kiwi fans will be impressed also with Thames rider Chris Birch (KTM), a former winner of the famous Red Bull Romaniacs hard enduro in Romania, who is riding as part of the KTM All Star Team in the “Club” grade.
Birch is 44th overall individual in the Club class ranks after Day Two.
Palmerston North rider Liam Ellis is the only other New Zealand rider listed among the entries and he is racing his KTM motorcycle in the C2 Club class as part of a three-rider Oceania squad.
Ellis is 61st overall individual in the Club ranks after Day Two.
The New Zealand ISDE campaign is supported by Ward Demolition, MJH Engineering Ltd, FIM Oceania, Macaulay Metals, Signbiz, Kiwi Rider Magazine, Silver-Bullet, New Plymouth Underwater, Hirepool and Motorcycling New Zealand.
Photo by Future7Media
© Words by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com
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