The 2024 International Six Days Enduro kicked off in Spain overnight and it will run through now until October 19, with more than 550 of the world’s elite riders accepting the massive challenge.
It is the three-rider squad from Spain that is perhaps favoured to win the FIM Women’s World Trophy section of this 98th edition of the International Six Days Enduro (ISDE).
Separate teams from the United States are ranked No.1 among the men and the women too, but the Spanish riders will be racing on their home turf and in front of a partisan spectator crowd.
The women’s area of the competition will be of particular interest to Kiwi fans because, for the first time, New Zealand has entered a women’s team.
The official three-rider women’s squad from New Zealand comprises Tapanui’s Kylie Dorr (Beta), Opunake’s Taylar Rampton (Husqvarna) and Te Awamutu’s Rachael Archer (Kawasaki) and they hope they can match or perhaps even challenge and beat the likes of Team Spain, although they know it won’t be an easy assignment.
Boosted by an army of home support in Galicia, Team Spain includes newly-crowned FIM Women’s Enduro World Champion, Mireia Badia (on a 300cc Rieju, a Spanish-manufactured bike).
Badia (pictured here) has enjoyed a phenomenal season in the world championship, claiming six wins from 10 starts, while only missing the podium once.
Along with her team-mates Nora Esteban (Beta) and Maria San Miguel (Rieju), Badia is determined to finish the year strong at the ISDE.
“It’s exciting to have the ISDE as a home race in Spain this year,” said Badia. “With Maria and Nora and myself, we have a really good team and will try our best to deliver a good result for the home crowd.”
With her first world title under her belt, along with the ISDE being held in Spain, Badia does not have the luxury of slipping in under the radar this year. Arguably riding the best she has ever done in her professional career, will her status of FIM world champion carry any extra weight in Galicia?
“For me, there is no extra pressure coming into the race,” admits Badia.
“I want to do my best, of course, but I won’t have pressure like I had at the final EnduroGP in France. The ISDE is a team race, it’s a long race too, anything can happen.”
In 2016, she competed in her first FIM ISDE in Navarra, Spain. She has raced it every year since then, except for last year’s edition in Argentina. Vastly experienced, she knows firsthand that a race like the ISDE cannot be won on the first day, despite how well it goes.
“In 2017, in France, I learned how quickly your luck can change at the ISDE. Spain ended the opening day leading the FIM Women’s World Trophy class and we were so happy. But on the first special test on day two it all changed in a single moment.
“I crashed, broke my collarbone and my race ended. It was a tough situation, but I saw there how quickly it can go wrong. For the ISDE, you have to be consistent across all days.”
For 2024, the ISDE sees the introduction of a new FIM Women’s Club Team Awards class.
As the demand for female participation in the FIM ISDE increases, the new category hopes to open additional avenues for women competitors to take to the start line. It is a move welcomed by world champion Badia.
“This new category is very important for women competing. Enduro is often seen as a boy’s sport, it can be tough for women to get involved.
“Creating more opportunities for women to compete can only be a good thing. Already in Spain, I can see more young women joining enduro. Let’s hope it continues to grow.”
Another point of interest for New Zealand enduro fans will be the KTM All Star Team, which brings together a trio of enduro legends, including Thames rider Chris Birch, a former winner of the famous Red Bull Romaniacs hard enduro in Romania.
Joining Birch in the “just for fun” three-rider KTM All Star Team is Frenchman Johnny Aubert and Germany’s Andreas Lettenbichler.
Aubert is a name synonymous with the ISDE, having won the World Trophy three times with France, while also winning the event outright twice.
Palmerston North rider Liam Ellis is the only other New Zealand rider listed among the entries and he will race his KTM motorcycle with pride in the C2 class as part of a three-rider Oceania squad.
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.
Anyone wishing to watch the live streaming of the ISDE, can do so by clicking on this link: https://fim-moto.tv/fim_isde
You can track the teams progress over the ISDE by downloading the Sportity app:
https://fim-isde.com/2024-noticeboard/
or on the results page https://fim-isde.com/2024-results/
You can download the event ‘Programa Oficial’ at:
https://fim-isde.com/…/NOCO-FIM-6DAYS-SPAIN-2024…
Further updates:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559914511846
https://www.instagram.com/isde_teamnz/
Photo by Pole Position Communication
Find BikesportNZ.com on FACEBOOK here