KTM's Taylor Robert Leads USA World Trophy Team to the Front After ISDE Day 1

VINA DEL MAR, Chile – Day one of the 2018 FIM International Six Days Enduro (ISDE) kicked off on Monday morning in Vina Del Mar, Chile and the U.S. World Trophy Teams are off to a great start. With FMF KTM Factory Racing’s Taylor Robert leading the overall classification and his KTM-mounted teammate, Steward Baylor Jr., contributing solid times, the four-rider World Trophy Team holds an early lead over the Australians at the close of day one.

The all-KTM Junior World Trophy Team of Grant Baylor, Ben Kelley and Josh Toth have entered a close three-way battle with Italy and France early on, while the Women’s World Trophy Team sits in second behind Team Australia with KTM-mounted riders Brandy Richards and Becca Sheets battling hard.

Extremely dusty conditions seemed to play a factor on the day’s special tests as the silty terrain caused plenty of get-offs throughout the day. American riders were no exception to the chaos but all-in-all, the U.S. World Trophy Teams made it through day one unscathed and ready to continue battle on Tuesday morning.

WORLD TROPHY TEAM (WT)

The U.S. World Trophy Team inherited an unfavorable start position for day one due to its unfortunate 16th place finish in 2017. Starting from the back of the pack, the American riders immediately put their heads down and fought their way into top contention. With a strong comeback performance on day one, the U.S. WT Team will enjoy the top start position for day two’s racing.

The rider at the front of the start order will be Robert, the 2016 ISDE overall winner and 2017 E3 winner. Robert channeled his desert racing experience to beat the dry and dusty conditions and emerge as the early leader aboard the KTM 450 XC-F. Robert maintained a steady pace of seconds through the first five special tests, but a strong win in the final special test of the day gave him a 19-second advantage over Australian rider Daniel Sanders.

Fresh off claiming his third-career AMA National Enduro Championship, Tely Energy Racing KTM’s Steward Baylor Jr. came into this year’s event as a fill-in rider for the injured Kailub Russell, racing aboard the KTM 450 XC-F in the E2 classification. Making his WT debut, Baylor is no stranger to the ISDE event as he’s represented the Junior World Trophy Team many times throughout his career. Baylor got off to a rocky start with a crash in the first special test, where he lost about 40 seconds right off the bat. He powered through, though, claiming a top-ten and two top-five special test finishes to successfully contribute to the team’s top score for the day.

Ryan Sipes (HQV) made a great addition to the U.S. WT effort on day one as he rode to a special test victory and a handful of top-ten finishes throughout the day, sitting fourth overall early on. The team’s fourth member, Zach Bell (HQV), had a tough ISDE debut as he experienced a couple of crashes that prevented him from contributing a score on day one.

“The goal for today was just to push as hard as we can, make some good test times and still be safe so we don’t get hurt on the first day,” said U.S. Trophy Team Manager, Antti Kallonen.“We have still a long five days ahead of us but it definitely was a good day one – coming from the back, eating all the dust and being able to make our way up front for tomorrow’s starting positions.”

JUNIOR WORLD TROPHY TEAM (JWT)
The U.S. Junior World Trophy Team put themselves into a competitive position on the first day of racing as they battled with leaders Italy and France all day. The American riders got ahold of the lead early on but a couple of crashes quickly dropped them a minute back to the third spot. They fought hard to reel the leaders back in as they head into day two only 33 seconds behind the leaders of Italy and just 13 seconds back from France in second.

KTM-support rider, Grant Baylor of the Tely Energy Racing KTM team, came in as the top JWT rider with an impressive overall performance aboard the KTM 450 XC-F, where he currently sits ninth in the overall classification.

FMF KTM Factory Racing’s Josh Toth, who returns for his second-career ISDE event aboard the KTM 250 XC-F, experienced a couple crashes that caused him to be a little off-pace on day one. Toth bounced back from a rough start where he holds a top-ten position in the E1 classification.

Recently-crowned GNCC XC2 250 Pro Champion, Ben Kelley of the Trail Jesters/KTM Racing Team, joined the JWT Team for the first time this year competing aboard a KTM 350 XC-F. Kelley rode consistently all day, where he holds a top-20 position in the E2 classification early on.

Kallonen added, “In the Junior World Trophy division, we were over a minute down at one point but we’re only 30 seconds behind the leaders of Italy and France, so we were able to reel them in a little bit. We’re expecting that our boys can close that gap and get on the top spot after day two.”

WOMEN’S WORLD TROPHY TEAM

The Women’s World Trophy Team is off to a strong second-place start as they look to dethrone the multi-time winners of team Australia. KTM-support rider Brandy Richards rode her KTM 350 XC-F to a special test victory at the end of the day, building upon three top-three finishes earlier in the day. An unfortunate run-in with a tree caused Richards to lose substantial time early on but she contributed solid scores to put the team in second and herself in fifth overall after one day.

KTM-support rider Becca Sheets struggled to get top finishes on day one but she powered through the obstacles. Riding aboard the KTM 250 XC-F for her second-ever ISDE, Sheets will reset and charge back for day two.    

Tarah Gieger (HON) led the U.S. Women’s World Trophy efforts on day one, finishing inside the top-five for all but two of the special tests. Gieger sits fourth overall in the individual classification.

Kallonen commented, “The first day is out of the way now and we’re expecting the riders to start performing better as the week goes on. We just have to put our head down, dig deep and try to close that deficit on the Australian team.”

Racing from the 2018 International Six Days Enduro will resume on Tuesday, November 13 with day two of six from Vina del Mar, Chile. For complete results from day one, please visit http://www.fim-isde-live.info. 

2018 RESULTS - Vina del Mar, Chile

World Trophy Classification (After Day 1 of 6)
1. USA, 2:45:10.30

2. Australia, +4.14

3. Spain, +1:07.6

4. Italy, +1:32.63

5. France, +1:56.76

Junior World Trophy Classification (After Day 1 of 6)

1. Italy, 2:48:00.48

2. France, +13.44

3. USA, +33.06

4. Chile, +2:41.97

5. Australia, +2:44.98

Women’s World Trophy Classification (After Day 1 of 6)

1. Australia, 2:03:28.42

2. USA, +1:10.96

3. Spain, +3:26.51

4. France, +5:17.08

5. Sweden, +11:28.73