AUSTRALIA IMPRESS AT THE ISDE

The 2024 International Six Days Enduro (ISDE) has concluded in Spain, with Team Australia finishing second in the Women’s World Trophy and fourth in the World and Junior World Trophies.

October 19’s final day, the traditional motocross test, was a mud fest where simply maintaining momentum and not falling prey to the massive bog holes was the name of the game.

Amazingly, most riders got through the pressure test intact as the sodden 2024 event came to an end – with all three Australian Trophy teams ultimately completing proceedings in the same positions they ended day one.

For the women (Jess Gardiner, Tayla Jones and Danielle McDonald) it was another superb second place finish behind the Brandy Richards-led America. Just over six minutes separated the teams after six days and over 1200km, with Sweden well back in third.

Gardiner’s impressive day six also saw her sneak into third spot in the individual women’s standings on her Yamaha, behind Richards (KTM) and New Zealander Rachael Archer (Kawasaki). Jones (Husqvarna) and McDonald (Yamaha) were seventh and eighth.

The 18-team World Trophy was won by France for the first time since 2017, ahead of 2023 champion America, Spain – despite the best efforts of the irrepressible Josep Garcia – and Australia (Kyron Bacon, Jonte Reynders, Cooper Sheidow and Josh Strang). The only change across the quartet was on day four when America edged its way past Spain.

Bacon (Yamaha), Reynders (Sherco) and Strang (Beta) all produced solid top-10 finishes in their respective classes, while Junior World Trophy (JWT) campaigner Angus Riordan (KTM) was the individual standout for Australia with fifth in E1 and 17th outright – a brilliant ISDE rookie result.

Riordan was joined by Korey McMahon (GASGAS) and fellow ISDE first-timer William Dennett (Yamaha) in the JWT. The trio kept America in their sights the entire time but ultimately couldn’t get on equal terms in the battle for the final podium spot. Sweden won by six minutes from France.

Garcia (KTM) was the outright winner after finally fending off the challenge of Briton Steve Holcombe (Honda), followed by Frenchman Theophile Espinasse (Beta). Behind Riordan, Bacon (20th), Reynders (21st) and Strang (29th) were the next best of the Aussies in the outright standings. Reynders was the leading Aussie before a struggle in the the sloppy conditions on day six saw him slip to thir

In the massive Club section of the ISDE, Oyster Bay Aust 1 (Michael Turnbull, Stephen Crosbie and Trent Sykes) finished strongly in 53rd, ahead of Oyster Bay Aust 2 (Scott Noble, Kaleb Treasure and Michael Todorovic) in 101st.