ISDE: Title for Italy, Belgium 9th!
In fact, the Italian team could no longer escape the final victory. The final cross test was therefore a mandatory event for the Italian foursome. They beat Spain and the US by a large margin. In the end, the Belgian team managed to come in ninth place, while the Netherlands remains 14th.
The squadra azzura's first ISDE victory since 2007(!) in Chile was clearly rewarding. In fact, Andrea Verona, Davide Guarneri, Thomas Oldrati and Matteo Cavallo never got into trouble all week. In the typically hard and dusty Italian conditions, the home team simply stood head and shoulders above the rest.
The American Junior World Trophy rider Dante Oliveira (photo above) turned out to be the star of the cross test at the Crossodromo Valle Scrivia in Cassano Spinola. The Californian piloted his KTM 450XC-F to victory. With Josep Garcia second and Canadian Tyler Medaglia third, there were many usual suspects at the front. Jaume Betriu and Ryan Sipes completed the top 5.
Both worked on the Belgian side Erik Willems as a Dietger Damiaens completed a nice cross test. Willems crossed the line in 6th place in the E2 and set the 10th scratch time! Dietger Damiaens was 8th in the E3, which gave him a 30th time in the scratch.
Briefly noted
- Although Andrew Verona (GasGas) certainly took up the challenge, Josep Garcia (Red Bull KTM) was too strong in the ISDE scratch, the individual general classification. The Spaniard is more than deserving of being the individual winner of the 95th Six Days. The Swede Mikael Persson surprisingly finishes third in the scratch.
- The Italians were also allowed to celebrate in the Junior Trophy. They beat France and Sweden. The Dutch Junior Team (Mike Boklag, Jarno Zandbergen, Marc Zomer) ends this ISDE in 7th. The Belgians ended up in P9 with Henson Lievens, Dante Nijs and Mika Vanderheyden
- Tommie Jochems en Mike Bokslag stole the show in their “race” in which they finished first and second ahead of the German Florian Gorner.
- Ordered before Henson Lievens a strong Six Days debut ended in a minor key. The GasGas rider took off like a rocket at the start of his moto, but hit Sipes' rear wheel in the second corner and crashed. Following riders could no longer avoid Henson, causing the ex-MCLB rider to hurt his knee. Lievens himself feared torn cruciate ligaments. In any case, we wish him a speedy recovery!
- If all goes well, Lievens will receive the gold medal. You will receive that gold medal if you arrive within the time limit of 10% compared to the winner in your class. Willems and Damians already won gold.
- In the scratch we find Erik Willems in P38, just after Sherco factory driver Rui Gonçalves. ISDE rookie Dietger Damiaens can certainly look back on his first six days with satisfaction. He is classified 44th for Quay Tinkler-Walker which you may know from the Dutch Supercross!
- A little further down in the scratch the Dutch toppers: Thierry Pittens (P54) and Daan Bruijsten (P57)
- Also in the top 100 of the scratch: Gauthier Lillo (P69), Mike Bokslag (P77), Tommie Jochems (P78), Henson Lievens (P80), Marc Zomer (P91), Dante Nijs (P94), Jarno Zandbergen (P99) )
- In the women's race, the Americans finished the job with Great Britain and Spain second and third.
- The lightning fast one Brandy Richards won again today among the women. She is in a fantastic 48th place in the scratch. Respect!
- World champion Jane Daniels was the first “EnduroGP lady” in the scratch for the Spanish Mireia Badia
Tekst: Tom Jacobs
Photos: Dina Damia's
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