The Kiwis are off to a flying start at the 2024 International Six Days Enduro in Spain, with Team New Zealand seventh overall out of 11 nations in the Women’s World Trophy Team class.
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) are thrilled to be running so strongly with the world’s elite after day one on Monday.
This is an historic first campaign by the Kiwis in the WWT class of this famous international competition.
Individually, Archer is ranked 3rd in the WWT class (and 100th overall alongside the men) after Day One, while Rampton is 19th (126th overall) and Dorr is 29th (136th overall).
Defending champion nation Team United States leads the WWT class after Day One, with Australia second and Sweden third, while France and Spain round out the top five.
Firmly established as one of the most prestigious events on the world off-road motorcycling calendar, this 98th edition of the ISDE has welcomed more than 550 competitors from over 30 nations.
From the world’s best enduro riders to the most enthusiastic amateur and hobby competitors, the venue at Galicia, in Spain’s northwest and right on the Atlantic coastline, will be a hotbed of dirt biking action throughout this week (until the sixth and final day on October 19).
Meanwhile, defending champions of the premier World Trophy (WT) class, the United States, are currently second overall, behind Team France, in this class after Day One, with host country Spain in third, while Australia and the Czech Republic round out the top five.
In total, 18 nations are contesting the World Trophy class, 11 have started in the Women’s World Trophy class, while the Junior World Trophy class is also fiercely competitive with 13 teams.
As always, it is the Club Team Awards (CTA) take up a large portion of the entry, highlighting the importance of the ISDE from the grassroots level to the world’s elite.
Thames rider Chris Birch (KTM), a former winner of the famous Red Bull Romaniacs hard enduro in Romania, is riding as part of the KTM All Star Team in the “Club” grade.
Birch is 37th overall individual in the Club ranks after Day One.
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 68th overall individual in the Club ranks after Day One.
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 Foto Boezerooy
© Words by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com
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