TEAM AUSTRALIA READY FOR ISDE

The 98th edition of the legendary FIM International Six Days of Enduro (ISDE) kicks off in Spain on October 14, with Australia’s 10-rider team ready for the challenge ahead.

Over 550 competitors will tackle the ISDE course in Sallida, located in north-west Spain. After only fielding a women’s team last year in Argentina, Australia returns in full force with Senior, Junior, and Women’s World Trophy teams.

The ISDE, known as the International Six Days Trial until 1981, will be as competitive as ever, with 18 nations vying for the World (Senior) Trophy, 11 in the Women’s World Trophy, and 13 in the Junior World Trophy.

Australia’s 2024 ISDE teams:

World Trophy

• Josh Strang (Beta)
• Cooper Sheidow (Yamaha)
• Jonte Reynders (Sherco)
• Kyron Bacon (Yamaha)

Junior World Trophy

• Korey McMahon (GASGAS)
• Angus Riordan (KTM)
• William Dennett (Yamaha)

Women’s World Trophy

• Jessica Gardiner (Yamaha)
• Tayla Jones (Husqvarna)
• Danielle McDonald (Yamaha)

The Australian women’s team is returning after a successful 2023, where Gardiner, Jones, and McDonald finished as runners-up, with McDonald also taking second in the individual standings. Four Australian riders will make their ISDE debuts: Sheidow, Reynders, Riordan, and Dennett.

Veteran rider Josh Strang returns to the World Trophy for the first time since helping Australia win in 2018. Excited about the event, Strang commented on the Enduro.bureau.official podcast: “The special tests are real enduro, which I’m excited about. The course has a lot of grass tracks that suit my style. It’s long and tough, and having fun is the key to a good result.” Strang, making his eighth ISDE appearance, will also be the only Australian rider competing on a two-stroke.

Australia has a strong ISDE history with two World Trophy victories, three Junior World Trophy wins, and six Women’s World Trophy titles. Gardiner and Jones were integral to all six women’s triumphs from 2013-2018.

Defending champions America lead the World and Women’s World Trophy, while France holds the Junior title. However, rivals like Great Britain (led by Steve Holcombe), Italy (with Andrea Verona), and Spain (with Josep Garcia) are strong contenders, with Garcia, Holcombe, and Verona claiming the top three spots in the 2024 EnduroGP World Championship.

The competition will cover 1270 km of rugged terrain from October 14-18, with each day becoming progressively harder. The event culminates with the traditional motocross test on day six, which has often been the decider for many ISDE titles.