Held in northern Italy’s Lombardy and Piedmont regions, the 2021 ISDE challenged over 600 riders with five days of dry and dusty unique test racing, followed by the traditional final day motocross races.
Hot weather greeted riders right from the event’s start, with tests becoming tougher and dustier as the competition progressed.
Finding the demanding conditions and fast tests very much to his liking, Josep Garcia immediately laid down the gauntlet to his rivals, going quickest overall on an opening day before repeating the feat on day two with an even more significant advantage.
It was soon apparent that the fight for the general would be fought between Garcia and Italy’s Andrea Verona, with the pair topping the majority of special tests.
Action
Taking his third consecutive day win on Wednesday, a hard crash on Thursday resulted in Josep completing the day as second-fastest, albeit just three seconds down on Verona.
With the positions reversed again on day five, with Josep finishing fastest by close to 20 seconds, the KTM 350 EXC-F rider went into the final motocross on Saturday with a healthy lead in both the overall and the Enduro2 categories.
Riding to ensure a safe finish yet still wanting to put on a show for the hundreds of fans lining the track, Garcia got a good start in the final motocross before fighting his way through to second place.
Unable to catch and pass Team USA’s Dante Oliveira, Josep’s runner-up result on the last day secured his win in both the Enduro2 class and saw him complete the event as the overall fastest rider, also helping Spain to their runner-up result in the World Trophy category.
Quotes
Josep Garcia: “I’m thrilled. It’s a dream come true to win the Six Days overall. Thanks to all my team and KTM for allowing me to do this.
It’s been a tough week, as I knew it would be tight at the top of the standings and you are forced to focus 100 percent the whole time. The days are very long, too, with many hours on the bike.
Thankfully, my crash on day four didn’t cost me too much time, and I came out of it ok physically.
I’m pleased with my week and my bike has been perfect. Winning four of the five full days is excellent, and I think I only had three falls over the whole week.
Sadly, we didn’t quite manage to win the World Trophy, weave their all, and finish as runner-up is really good. It’s been an excellent for me.”
FMF KTM Factory Racing’s Taylor Robert enjoyed a solid Six Days but having only returned to riding just days before travelling to Europe.
Winner
The former overall ISDE winner wasn’t at his very best. Nevertheless, finishing each of the five full days of racing second in the E2 class behind Garcia, Robert skillfully steered his KTM 450 XC-F to a runner-up finish in Enduro2. Robert also led Team USA to a third-place finish in the World Trophy classification.
Taylor Robert: “I’m not exactly where I wanted to be this week, obviously I wanted to compete for the overall again, but I was a little off the pace. I had only managed four days of riding before I jumped on the plane to come to Italy after breaking my collar bone and being off the bike for six weeks.
I’m happy with how I rode and put in some good, consistent days; it just wasn’t quite enough to fight with the top guys. In the World Trophy, we’ve finished third, which is excellent, especially with a couple of younger, less experienced riders in the team.
We’ve learned a lot and have some things we can work on for next year. All-in-all it’s been a great event, very tough, but I’ve enjoyed it.”
More quotes
Dominating the Women’s category, KTM-supported Brandy Richards went fastest on day one by close to two minutes and didn’t look back, extending her lead every day from then on.
Comfortable on the fast, dry tests, the KTM 350 XC-F rider helped to give her USA Women’s World Trophy team a nearly 14-minute advantage going into the sixth day’s motocross races.
Completing her 2021 ISDE with a clear win in the final moto, Richards cemented her place at the top of the Women’s class and secured Team USA the Women’s World Trophy title.
Brandy Richards: “I’m stoked for myself and the team here in Italy. My goals came here to take the overall in the Women’s class and keep Team USA at the top of the Women’s World Trophy competition, and I’ve done both.
There are so many fast, skilful riders here, so being inside the top 100 overall is a massive achievement for me. It’s been a tough week, but with the tests not being too technical, the riding has suited me ideally.”
Other KTM riders of note were Sweden’s Mikael Persson, who claimed second in the E1 class, and Spain’s Jaume Betriu, who aided his country to second place in the World Trophy competition by finishing third in E3.
In the Manufacturer’s Team Award, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing took the win thanks to Josep Garcia, Taylor Robert, and the USA’s junior rider Dante Oliveira, who placed an excellent third overall in the Enduro2 class.
Results – FIM International Six Days Enduro 2021
Overall individual classification
- 1. Josep Garcia (ESP), KTM, 4:14:16.07
- 2. Andrea Verona (ITA), GASGAS, 4:16:12.52
- 3. Mikael Persson (SWE), KTM, 4:17:46.67
- 4. Matteo Cavallo (ITA), TM, 4:19:10.57
- 5. Taylor Robert (USA), KTM, 4:19:17.23
- Other KTM
- 7. Jaume Betriu (ESP), KTM, 4:20:45.91
- 10. Dante Oliveira (USA), KTM, 4:21:13.27
Enduro 1
- 1. Andrea Verona (ITA), GASGAS, 4:16:12.52
- 2. Mikael Persson (SWE), KTM, 4:17:46.67
- 3. Lorenzo Macoritto (ITA), TM, 4:20:50.46
- 4. Davide Guarneri (ITA), Fantic, 4:20:54.87
- 5. Jonathan Girroir (USA), GASGAS, 4:23:24.54
Other KTM
- 8. Manolo Morettini (ITA), KTM, 4:28:26.50
Enduro 2
- 1. Josep Garcia (ESP), KTM, 4:14:16.07
- 2. Taylor Robert (USA), KTM, 4:19:17.23
- 3. Dante Oliveira (USA), KTM, 4:21:13.27
- 4. Layne Michael (USA), Yamaha, 4:22:03.22
- 5. Thomas Oldrati (ITA), Honda, 4:22:26.76
Enduro 3
- 1. Matteo Cavallo (ITA), TM, 4:19:10.57
- 2. Matteo Pavoni (ITA), TM, 4:20:18.95
- 3. Jaume Betriu (ESP), KTM, 4:20:45.91
- 4. Ryan Sipes (USA), GASGAS, 4:24:01.03
- 5. Leo Le Quere (FRA), Sherco, 4:24:33.50
- Other KTM
- 8. Dominik Olszowy (POL), KTM, 4:25:59.58
Enduro Women
- 1. Brandy Richards (USA), KTM, 4:36:27.62
- 2. Jane Daniels (GBR), Fantic, 4:46:05.94
- 3. Mireia Badia (ESP), GASGAS, 4:46:24.87
- 4. Rachel Gutish (USA), Husqvarna, 4:54:49.22
- 5. Joana Goncalves (POR), Husqvarna, 4:55:51.41
Other KTM
- 6. Justine Martel (FRA), KTM, 4:57:47.94
- 8. Rosie Rowett (GBR), KTM, 5:01:36.58
World Trophy Team
- 1. Italy (Verona, Guarneri, Oldrati, Cavallo)
- 2. Spain (Garcia, Betriu, Sans, Guerrero)
- 3. USA (Girroir, Robert, Michael, Sipes)
Junior World Trophy
- 1. Italy (Macoritto, Morettini, Pavoni)
- 2. France (Fargier, Le Quere, Criq)
- 3. Sweden (Ljungstrom, Norrbin, Ahlin)
Women’s World Trophy
- 1. USA (Richards, Gutish, Gallegos)
- 2. Great Britain (Holmes, Daniels, Rowett)
- 3. Spain (Gomez, Calco, Badia)
