International Six Day Enduro - Day 2

[Andy]

The second day of the eighty-sixth running of the FIM International Six Days Enduro (ISDE) in Kotka, Finland proved to be every bit as demanding as the first. With heavy rain during the early stages of the day, adding to an already badly cut up course and special tests, resulted in yet more big name retirements and another dominant performance from World Trophy team leaders Finland.

Using the exact same course as the opening day, competitors faced another brutal three hundred kilometres in the saddle. With the organisers left with no option, but to re-work several areas of the special tests, the hard day resulted in all riders pleased to see the finish.

At the top of the World Trophy team competition Finland extended their lead, making light work of the extremely difficult conditions. Now more than nine minutes ahead of second placed Spain, class topping results from Eero Remes (KTM) and Marko Tarkkala (Husaberg) ensured that as far as the World Trophy team competition is concerned stopping Finland from winning is going to be anything but easy.

Behind Finland, Spain hold onto the runners-up spot. Although better known for their love of sun drenched southern European terrain, all of the team's riders performed well to keep them ahead of third placed USA. While Finland are running away with the World Trophy team competition, Sweden have a fight on their hands in the Junior Trophy category, despite holding a near one-minute advantage at the top of the class. With France snapping at their heels, the two countries look set to battle one another for the class win, as third placed Great Britain currently sits seven minutes behind France.

In the Women's Cup competition France notably extended their lead, which now stands at fifty-two minutes. Finland's women hold the runners-up position while Sweden sits third.

At the head of the Enduro 1 class it's an all-Finnish affair as Eero Remes, Juha Salminen (KTM) and Matti Seistola (Husqvarna) hold the top three positions. Just as he did on day one US rider Kurt Caselli (KTM) topped the Enduro 2 class placing just ten seconds ahead of Spaniard Cristobal Guerrero (KTM). Third went to Australian Matthew Phillips (Yamaha) while in the progressive E2 class results the trio hold the same top three positions.

Finishing twenty-three seconds ahead of his closest rival at the end of the second day's competition Marko Tarkkala secured his second E3 day win. Moving nearly a minute clear at the top of the progressive E3 results. Tarkkala is followed by Sweden's Joakim Ljunggren (Husaberg) and Spain's Ivan Cervantes (Gas Gas).

"Things have been going very well, but it's been difficult," offered Tarkkala at the end of the day. "On the first day I was passing four or five riders on each test, but today I always had a clear track ahead of me, which made a big difference. The course and the special tests have been very difficult, but everything is going well for the Finnish World Trophy team. There's going to be a new course tomorrow, so I hope it's going to be a little easier."

Results after day two

Team

World Trophy

1: Finland 6.37:50.08

2: Spain 6.46:50.47

3: USA 6.57:28.73

4: Sweden 7.03:52.60

5: Portugal 7.07:19.28

Junior Trophy

1: Sweden 4.13:14.10

2: Frace 4.14:12.40

3: Great Britain 4.21:33.70

4: Australia 4.32:08.86

5: USA 4.32:57.60

Women's Cup

1: France 5.02:06.94

2: Finland 5.55:03.01

3: Sweden 6.05:40.72

4: Australia 6.08:40.98

5: USA 8.00:00.00