Racing

Josh Strang – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

Tayla Jones – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

Ryan Sipes – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

Daniel Sanders - Husqvarna FE 501

Leading Husqvarna Motorcycles’ efforts at the International Six Days Enduro in Chile, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing riders Josh Strang and Tayla Jones helped Team Australia become World Trophy and Women’s World Trophy champions respectively. FE 250 powered Ryan Sipes helped Team USA secure the runner-up spot in the World Trophy classification. 

The biggest event in the annual enduro racing calendar, the 2018 ISDE welcomed hundreds of racers from all around the world. Battling through dusty conditions throughout the week in Vińa del Mar, Josh Strang played a vital role for Team Australia. Securing a solid fourth place result in the highly-competitive Enduro 2 category, the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing rider helped Team Australia become the 2018 ISDE World Trophy champions. 

Taking the lead early on day one and never looking back, Tayla Jones was a force to be reckoned with in Chile. Topping the overall individual Enduro Women classification, the FE 250 powered rider also led Team Australia in winning the Women’s World Trophy competition for an impressive sixth consecutive time. 

Racing his FE 250 machine in the Enduro 1 category, Ryan Sipes played a vital role in helping Team USA place as runners up in the World Trophy team competition. After six long days of racing the American claimed a strong fourth place result in the Enduro 1 category. 

Competing for Team Australia alongside Josh Strang, Husqvarna powered Daniel Sanders was one of the revelations of this year’s ISDE. Securing the runner-up spot in the Enduro 3 category, the FE 501 mounted rider was also third in the overall individual standings. 

Josh Strang: “It was a long week of racing here in Chile and I am really happy we managed to get this win. The special tests were fairly good for me all week long. I was battling to remain up front every day. I was quite consistent during the week and managed to stay out of trouble. There were times when I felt that my speed could have been better, but overall it’s more of an endurance event. More than anything else, the ISDE is a team event and for Team Australia it is perfect to come out on top both in the World Trophy and the Women’s World Trophy standings.” 

Tayla Jones: “I’m really happy with our sixth victory as a team and my individual win in the Women’s class. This year I managed to stay fast and consistent and every day I was increasing my lead in the individual standings. It felt good to go into the final cross test with a comfortable lead and at the end of the week I was almost three minutes ahead of the rest of the field. It’s been a good ISDE for me and Team Australia and I’m happy we get to retain the trophy for one more year.” 

Ryan Sipes: “It’s been a rough week for me. I started off really good and also managed to get a test win in the bag. My goal was to battle for the overall win but a big crash on day two made it all harder. After the crash, I had to soldier through the rest of the race. It’s tough to race for a whole week with pain, but I did my best for Team USA. I hope to get back stronger next year in Portugal and help Team USA return to the top step of the podium.” 

Daniel Sanders: “It was a good week for me. I had a few small mistakes here and there during the week, but I am really happy with my speed. This was my first enduro race on the big FE 501 and I’m more than happy with the way it performed all week long. I really enjoyed racing the big bike in Chile. Conditions were tricky with the dust and the last lap of every day seemed like the most challenging one. With the heat coming through, your heart rate is also going up and you need to be strong physically to keep pushing.” 

Results – FIM International Six Days Enduro 2018 

World Trophy Team 
1. Australia – 13:40:08:56 
Josh Strang (Husqvarna), Daniel Milner (KTM), Daniel Sanders (Husqvarna), Lyndon Snodgrass (KTM) 
2. USA – 13:47:18:54 
Ryan Sipes (Husqvarna), Taylor Robert (KTM), Steward Baylor (KTM), Zach Bell (Husqvarna) 
3. Italy – 13:50:57:85 
Alex Salvini (Husqvarna), Davide Guarneri (Honda), Thomas Oldrati (Honda), Giacomo Redondi (Honda) 

Women’s World Trophy
1. Australia – 10:26:54:17 
Tayla Jones (Husqvarna), Jessica Gardiner (Yamaha), Tricker Mackenzie (KTM) 
2. USA – 10:35:57:27 
Rebecca Sheets (KTM), Tarah Gieger (Honda), Brandy Richards (KTM) 
3. Spain – 10:47:48:11 
Mireia Badia (Husqvarna), Sandra Gomez (KTM), Gabriela Seisdedos (Gas Gas) 

Enduro 1 
1. Andrea Verona (TM) 4:37:32.45; 2. Davide Guarneri (Honda) 4:38:07.91; 3. Victor Guerrero (Yamaha) 4:39:04.06; 4. Ryan Sipes (Husqvarna) 4:40:00.41… 9. Fraser Higlett (Husqvarna) 4:48:36.03… 12. Josh Salomonsson (Husqvarna) 4:56:29.24… 14. Robert Friberg (Husqvarna) 4:57:48.22… 17. Diego Llanos (Husqvarna) 5:02:06.16… 20. Alexandre Vaudan (Husqvarna) 5:39:40.99 

Enduro 2 
1. Taylor Robert (KTM) 4:31:47.96; 2. Steward Baylor (KTM) 4:37:01.50; 3. Thomas Oldrati (Honda) 4:37:58.89; 4. Josh Strang (Husqvarna) 4:38:18.86… 9. Albin Elowson (Husqvarna) 4:40:46.70… 13. Alex Salvini (Husqvarna) 4:44:36.14… 15. Tosha Scareina (Husqvarna) 4:45:43.22… 21. Diego Herrera (Husqvarna) 4:49:49.88; 22. Antti Hanninen (Husqvarna) 4:50:56.85; 23. Rikard Hansson (Husqvarna) 4:51:24.42; 24. Nicolas Kutulas (Husqvarna) 4:53:34.48… 27. Franco Ayuso (Husqvarna) 5:03:27.53… 30. Santiago Corazza (Husqvarna) 5:19:04.83… 32. Denis Escobar (Husqvarna) 5:24:23.89 

Enduro 3 
1. Daniel Milner (KTM) 4:29:53.48; 2. Daniel Sanders (Husqvarna) 4:31:56.22; 3. Giacomo Redondi (Honda) 4:37:17.18… 5. Ruy Barbosa (Husqvarna) 4:38:41.92… 10. Zach Bell (Husqvarna) 4:45:53.52… 12. Oskar Ljungstrom (Husqvarna) 4:49:15.08… 21. Cristian Arriegada (Husqvarna) 5:03:26.93 

Enduro Women 
1. Tayla Jones (Husqvarna) 5:08:48.18; 2. Brandy Richards (Husqvarna) 5:11:43.87; 3. Livia Lancelot (Honda) 5:13:24.78… 5. Mireia Badia (Husqvarna) 5:21:58.56… 10. Amanda Elvin (Husqvarna) 5:45:03.29… 14. Audrey Rossat (Husqvarna) 6:04:09.04… 18. Tania Gonzalez (Husqvarna) 6:54:54.22… 25. Carla Scaglioni (Husqvarna) 8:01:47.73