FRANCE SEIZES EARLY LEAD IN 2012 ISDE 6 DAYS

The 2012 International Six Days Enduro (ISDE), the oldest offroad event in the International Motorcycle Federation got underway in Saxony, Germany with the French team, including three KTM factory riders seizing an early lead in the coveted World Trophy.

France’s Antoine Meo (KTM), Rodrig Thain, Johnny Aubert (KTM), Pierre-Alexandre Renet, Christophe Nambotin (KTM) and Sebastien Guillaume finished the day with a collective time of 5:37.01 hours. Guilaume’s time as the slowest was not counted as each team can drop their worst time in the calculation.

Australia with Glenn Kearney, Daniel Milner, Christopher Hollis (KTM), Matthew Philipps, Josh Strang (KTM) and Toby Price (KTM) were 4:13.29 minutes behind and Finland, who won the trophy last year were third with Eero Remes (KTM), Antii Hellsten, Roni Nikander (KTM), Juha Salminen, Jari Mattila (KTM), Marko Tarkkala trailing by 5:34.42 minutes.

Spain, with KTM factory rider Cristobal Guerrero and his brother Victor, a KTM supported rider and teammates were fourth. Italy was fifth and the USA, with four strong KTM riders finished sixth. USA’s Kurt Caselli crashed during the day’s race but is expected to start tomorrow. Eight minutes and 15 seconds separate the first eight teams.

In the Junior World Trophy Italy was the fast finisher on day one followed by Britain, Australia, France and USA. Seven national teams are also contesting the Women’s Trophy and after day one it was France who led the field, followed by Australia, Germany, Sweden and the USA.

KTM factory riders were also very strong in the individual classes. In E1, KTM’s newly crowned E1 World Champion Antoine Meo of France had a strong first day finishing ahead of factory teammate Eero Remes who trailed him by 12.44. KTM’s Johnny Aubert of France and his factory teammate Cristobal Guerrero made a solid start in E2 finishing second and fourth while KTM’s E3 World Champion Christophe Nambotin of France taking an early lead in front of Toby Price, a leading KTM rider in Australia close behind at 4.32.

The 2012 ISDE is being hosted by Saxony in Germany in and around the famous Sachsenring racing circuit and the opening day offered near perfect riding conditions. The event has attracted around 470 riders from professional level to club and hobby riders and represents the perfect annual occasion for hobby riders to race against the world’s best. The 2012 edition has attracted riders from all over the world.

Day One: ISDE International Six Days Enduro, Saxony Germany

World Trophy

1. France: Antoine Meo (KTM), Rodrig Thain, Johnny Aubert (KTM), Pierre-Alexandre Renet, Christophe Nambotin (KTM) and Sebastien Guillaume – 5:37.01 hours

2. Australia: Glenn Kearney, Daniel Milner, Christopher Hollis (KTM), Matthew Philipps, Josh Strang (KTM) and Toby Price (KTM) +4:13.29 min

3. Finland: Eero Remes (KTM), Antii Hellsten, Roni Nikander (KTM), Juha Salminen, Jari Mattila (KTM), Marko Tarkkala +5:34.42

4. Spain: Victor Guerrero (KTM), Lorenzo Santolino, Ivan Cervantes, Cristobal Guerrero (KTM), Armand Monleon (KTM), Aaron Bernardez +55:37.31

5. Italy: Maurizio Micheluz, Deny Philippaerts, Alex Salvini, Oscar Baletti, Manuel Monni (KTM), Mirko Gritti (KTM) +7:49.05

6. USA: Mike Brown (KTM), Destry Abbott, Kurt Caselli (KTM), Taylor Robert, Charlie Mullins (KTM), Russell Bobbitt (KTM) +8:15.13

7. Sweden +8:49.70
8. Britain +16:53.50
9. Netherlands +18:17.36
10. Czech Republic +24:55.94
11. Belgium +26:55.53
12. Austria +32:01.21

Junior World Trophy

1. Italy: Thomas Oldrati, Gianluca Martini, Nicoli Mori, Rudy Moroni (KTM) 3:29.27 hours

2. Britain: Jack Rowland, Steve Holcombe (KTM), Alex Rockwell, Danny McCanny +1:10.46 min

3. Australia: Benjamin Burrell (KTM), Luka Bussa, Mitcham Harper, Lachlan Stanford +2:56.98

4. France: Jeremy Joly, Matthias Bellino, Alexandre Queyreyre, Kevin Rohmer +4.11.68

5. USA: Travis Coy (KTM), Andrew Delong, Thaddeus Duvall, Jesse Groemm (KTM) +4:31.03

6. Portugal: +6:09.61
7. Spain: +7:41.62
8. Finland: +:04.37
9. Sweden: +8:50.46
10. Czech Republic: +9:58.40

Manufacturers Trophy

1. KTM 1: Cristobal Guerrero, Antoine Meo, Christophe Nambotin 3:21.59 hours

2. Husqvarna CH Racing 2: Juha Salminen, Lorenzo Santolino, Alex Santolino +1:27 min

3. KTM 2: Eero Remes, Kurt Caselli, Johnny Aubert +1:53

4. KTM 3: Mike Brown, Charlie Mullins, Russell Bobbitt +5:18

5. Husaberg 1: Joakim Ljunggren, Pierre-Alexandre Renet, Mathias Bellino +5:41

E1 Individual
1. Antoine Meo (F), KTM, 1:06.56 hours
2. Eero Remes (FIN), KTM, +12.44 sec
3. Lorenzo Santolino (E), Husqvarna, +52.59
4. Rodgrig Thain (F), Honda, +1:30.64 min
5. Thomas Oldrati (I), Husaberg, +1:32,86
6. Daniel Milner (AUS), +1:47.82
7. Roni Nikander (FIN), KTM, +2:06.62
8. Maurizio Micheluz (I), Honda, +2:10.09
9. Victor Guerrero (E), KTM, +2:16.83
10. Antti Hellsten (FIN), TM, +2:21.17

E2 Individual
1. Pierre-Alexandre Renet (F), Husaberg, 1:06.46 hours
2. Johnny Aubert (F), KTM, +34.81 sec
3. Juha Salminen (FIN), Husqvarna, +41.59
4. Cristobal Guerrero (E), KTM, +46.34
5. Josh Strang (AUS), KTM, +46.70
6. Charlie Mullins (USA), KTM, +1:07.25 min
7. Matthew Philipps (AUS), Yamaha, +1:13.63
8. Alex Salvini (I), Husqvarna, +1:22.76
9. Ivan Cervantes (E), Gas-Gas, +1:38.20
10. Taylor Robert (USA), Kawasaki +1:50.31

E3 Individual
1. Christophe Nambotin (F), KTM, 1:07.29 hours
2. Toby Price (AUS), KTM, +4.32 sec
3. Joakim Ljunggren (S), 47.17
4. Sebastien Guillaume (F), Gas-Gas, +1:30.01 min
5. Manuel Monni (I), 1:42.11
6. Pontius Hogberg (S), Gas-Gas, 1:43.89
7. Algar Leok (EST), TM, +1:44.38
8. Mirko Gritti (I), KTM, +2:05.30
9. Marko Tarkkala (FIN), +2:06.89
10. Aaron Bernadez (E), TM, +2:08.80