DAY SIX – FINLAND WINS WORLD TROPHY CLASS
Bringing the 2011 edition of the FIM International Six Days Enduro (ISDE) to a spectacular close the final day motocross races, held ten kilometres outside of Kotka, saw Finland claim victory in the World Trophy team competition, France top the Junior World Trophy team category and France also win the Women’s Cup class. With thousands of enduro fans enjoying an action packed day, the best weather of the six-day event helped ensure a memorable end to what was a challenging week for all competitors.
Remes was "on it" all week and not only topped E1 but the overall as well (Edmunds J. KTM Images)
With all six of their team riders performing faultlessly during the final day motocross races Finland secured a dominant victory in the World Trophy team competition, finishing an eventual thirty minutes ahead of Spain. Never looking like doing anything other than winning the World Trophy class the home nation returned to the top of the results sheets for the first time since 2006, also ending France’s three-year strangle hold on the category. With Spain claiming the runners-up position, the US were the third nation to stand on the end-of-event podium. Sweden claimed an eventual fourth place result with The Netherlands fifth and Germany – the host nation of the 2012 ISDE in sixth.
Starting the sixth and final day with a healthy advantage at the top of the Junior Trophy class France’s four-rider team made no mistakes to claim an eventual hard fought thirteen minute winning advantage. Helped by strong final day performances by Mathias Bellino (Husaberg) and Roman Dumontier (Yamaha) France were followed home by Sweden and Great Britain. Team USA finished in an eventual fourth position ahead of Australia in fifth and Spain in sixth.
Results: World Trophy1: Finland 17.11:11.66, 2: Spain 17.41:54.43, 3: USA 18.05:34.86, 4: Sweden 18.20:34.23, 5: Netherlands 18.33:29.28
Junior Trophy
1: France 10.47:34.11, 2: Sweden 11.00:47.31, 3: Great Britain 11.05:16.50, 4: USA 11.34:06.87, 5: Australia 11.41:28.41
Individual: E1 (& Overall): Eero Remes (Finland) E2: Kurt Caselli (USA) E3: Marko Tarkkala (Finland)DAY FIVE – FINLAND STAY ON TOP
With only the sixth and final day of the eighty-sixth FIM International Six Days Enduro (ISDE) remaining Finland’s World Trophy team riders Eero Remes (KTM), Juha Salminen (Husqvarna), Matti Seistola (Husqvarna), Jari Mattila (KTM), Valtteri Salonen (TM) and Marko Tarkkala (Husaberg) look certain to claim victory. Extending their lead over second placed Spain to a massive twenty-seven minutes, all team riders made it to the end of the fifth day without problems setting themselves up perfectly for their assault on the final day motocross races.
Enjoying the best weather of the event, day five was also one all riders were pleased to see the end as it signified the end of a long, hard week. With one of the day’s special tests cancelled due to it being too rough to use following the heavy rain on day four, there were no major surprises in the World Trophy, Junior Trophy or Women’s Cup classes.
All but assured the win in the World Trophy team competition Finland delivered yet another first class performance to keep themselves ahead of Spain. The US Trophy team remain in third, helped by another strong performance from Enduro 2 class riders Kurt Caselli (KTM) while Sweden, The Netherlands and Germany remain fourth, fifth and sixth respectively.
DAY FOUR – FRANCE TOP JUNIOR TROPHY
At the end of a challenging and eventful fourth day at the FIM International Six Days Enduro (ISDE) staged in Kotka, Finland it was the French Junior team that had most to celebrate, as their four-rider squad moved to the top of the Junior Trophy class. Demoting early class leaders Sweden into second position, France overturned a one-minute deficit and now lead by some seven minutes. With a new course, the longest of the event so far, continued heavy rain ensured yet another difficult day.
Beneath the Mud and gutters hides a hard charging Oriel Mena (Edmunds. J)
Despite the tough conditions Finland significantly extended their lead at the top of the World Trophy team competition and are now positioned more than twenty minutes ahead of second placed Spain. Helped once again by strong performances from all team riders, with just two days of competition remaining it now looks all but inevitable that Finland will claim yet another World Trophy class victory.
Remaining in the runners-up position Spain’s senior team again produced an impressive performance to remain ahead of the USA who hold firm in third, with The Netherlands fourth and Germany fifth.
With France moving to the top of the World Junior Trophy team competition with just two days of the ISDE left Sweden, who held the top spot for the first three days of the event, find themselves down to three riders following the retirement of Johan Carlsson (Beta) with a mechanical problem. Great Britain hold third, eight minutes behind Sweden, with the USA fourth and Australia fifth.
In the Women’s Cup France extended their lead at the top of the class, now sitting one-hour and twelve minutes ahead of Finland in second. Australia remains third, some three hours behind leaders France.
Tarkkala has been rockin' the E3 lead all the week long... (Edmunds J.)
Beaten into second place in the Enduro 1 class on day three, Eero Remes (KTM) returned to the top in E1 to secure his third day win. Fourteen seconds ahead of countryman Juha Salminen (Husqvarna) Remes now leads the progressive E1 class results by a little over one-minute. Third on day four went to Matti Seistola (Husqvarna) who also sits third in the progressive E1 results behind Remes and Salminen.
US racer Kurt Caselli (KTM) continued his winning ways at the top of the Enduro 2 class despite being pushed extremely hard by Australian Matthew Phillips (Yamaha). Third went to Spain’s Cristobal Guerrero (KTM) while in the progressive E2 results Caselli leads Phillips by fifty seconds with Guerrero third.
Marko Tarkkala (Husaberg) was once again the rider to beat in the Enduro 3 class, claiming his fourth straight day win. With his closest class rival, Sweden’s Joakim Ljunggren (Husaberg), retiring from the competition after injuring his leg Tarkkala now sits close to three minutes ahead of Spain’s Ivan Cervantes (Gas Gas). Cervantes placed second to Tarkkala on day four with Finn Valtteri Salonen (TM) third.
Day 4: World Trophy1: Finland 12.51:02.66
2: Spain 13.12:00.67
3: USA 13.32:07.78
4: Sweden 13.42:23.43
5: Netherlands 13.54:40.08
DAY THREE – FINLAND CONTINUES TO DOMINATE
With the opening two days of the eighty-sixth running of the FIM International Six Days Enduro (ISDE) in Kotka, Finland proving to be extremely challenging, for those that took to the start of day three all hopes were of an easier course. However, as all competitors soon found out the day that marked the mid-way point of the event was anything but easy. With bright sunshine beaming down on the leading riders as they left the start it wasn’t long before the weather changed and numerous torrential downpours made the course extremely challenging.
Ludivne Puy lead the charge of the womens French team
At the head of the World Trophy team competition Finland once again ruled supreme, strengthening their advantage at the top of the category to a little over twelve minutes. With even Finland’s experienced World Trophy team riders finding conditions tough, Spain’s riders once again delivered impressive results to hold onto their runners-up position. Fourteen minutes behind Spain the USA also enjoyed a largely trouble free day to hold onto their third place position.
Just like Finland in the World Trophy team competition, Sweden in the Junior Trophy class hold on to their place at the top, but remain under constant pressure from France. With strong performances from Calle Sjoo (Honda), Johan Carlsson (Husaberg), and Karl Svensson (Husaberg) ensuring Sweden hold onto their lead, France sit one-minute behind. With little to separate the two nations on the third day of the ISDE, they sit comfortably ahead of Great Britain in third.
France remain on top in the Women’s Cup with Ludivine Puy (Gas Gas) finishing day three as the fastest overall female competitor. More than one-hour ahead, France lead host nation Finland in second with Australia third.
Seven-time world champion Juha Salminen (Husqvarna) claimed his first day win in the Enduro 1 class, placing ten seconds up on countryman Eero Remes (KTM) while third went to Matti Seistola (Husqvarna). In the progressive E1 class results Remes continues to lead, some fifty-six seconds ahead of Salminen with Seistola in third.
Australian riders dominated the Enduro 2 class on day three of the ISDE with Toby Price (KTM) topping the class, despite injuring his foot on day one. Second went to six days first timer Matthew Phillips (Yamaha), who ended the day just five seconds behind Price with Cristobal Guerrero (KTM) third. In the progressive E2 class results USA rider Kurt Caselli (KTM) continues to lead, despite two costly falls during the final special test, with Guerrero second and Phillips third.
“It’s been a tough day because of the weather,” explained Caselli while exiting the parc ferme at the end of the day. “One minute the sun’s shining and then the next it’s raining like crazy. I was having a pretty good day right up until the final special test. One minute everything was fine, the next I’m on the ground with mud all over my gloves and asking myself what the hell happened. I lost a lot of time, but I’m still leading the Enduro 2 class so I’m happy about that.”
Continuing his mastery of the Enduro 3 class Marko Tarkkala (Husaberg) placed twenty seconds up on Joakim Ljunggren (Husaberg) with Spaniard Ivan Cervantes (Gas Gas) third. Now more than one-minute ahead in the progressive E3 class results Tarkkala is placed ahead of Ljunggren and Cervantes.
As predicted its the might of the Finish team that have hit the ground running after the opening two days of competition. Out to impress on their home turf, the World trophy team standings are headed by Finland. Racking up a 1-2-3 in E1 and a 1-5 in E3 scratch standings have given them a perfect start to the week. Spain chases them in second albeit some 10mis adrift while its the E2 victory on Day 1 and 2 by USA’s Kurt Caselli that has elevated team USA into third spot. Team Sweden are out front in the Junior trophy standings but given chase by France and Britain.
Eero Remes was fastest outright so far (Edmunds J. KTM Images)
We're not so sure what the arrow is trying to tell us!!
2, Spain
3, USA
4, Sweden 5, Portugal Junior Trophy 1, Sweden 2, France, 3, Britain 4, USA 5, Australia Women’s Trophy 1, France 2, Finland 3, Sweden 4, Australia 5, USA
Caselli loves the camera... & winning! (Edmunds J/ KTM Images)