Racing

2019 ISDE Kicks Off

The 93rd International Six Days Enduro gets underway in Viña del Mar, Chile

November 13, 2018

As usual, a strong contingent of American fans and support people made the trek to Chile to cheer on the American teams. The event will consist of five days of enduro competition over approximately 187 miles in the Valparaíso region, followed by a final day motocross near Viña del Mar.Shan Moore

More than 400 professional and amateur riders from 25 nations assembled in Viña del Mar, Chile, this week to compete in the 93rd edition of the International Six Days Enduro. Defending champions, France, look strong to defend both their FIM World Trophy and FIM Junior World Trophy titles. However, the United States has assembled impressive teams to challenge for the World, Junior, and Women's Trophy awards.

The US team won the prestigious World Trophy for the first time ever in Spain in 2016 behind the riding of Taylor Robert, Ryan Sipes, Kailub Russell, Thad Duvall, and Layne Michael. This year, Zach Bell joins Robert, Sipes, and Steward Baylor for the 2018 effort.

In the Junior division, Grant Baylor, Josh Toth, and Ben Kelley come into the event as one of the favorites to win their division. Meanwhile, Tarah Geiger, Brandy Richards, and Becca Sheets will challenge the Australians for tops in the Women’s division. In addition to the Trophy teams, several US Club teams will compete for awards during the weeklong event.

During the traditional parade that is held during opening ceremonies, each team marches through town along the beautiful beach that sits right in the middle of town. Viña del Mar is on the Pacific Ocean and it is a popular location for tourists.Shan Moore

Taylor Robert talks to US Team Manager Antti Kallonen during opening ceremonies. In addition to leading the US squad to a World Trophy Team victory in Spain in 2016, Robert was also the individual overall winner that year and he will be gunning for that honor again in 2018.Shan Moore

Ryan Sipes was the 2015 ISDE individual overall winner and also a member of the 2016 winning team. He will be riding a 250F in the class in Chile.Shan Moore

Steward Baylor was a last-minute addition to the team when it was announced in mid-October that Kailub Russell was going to undergo shoulder surgery immediately after wrapping up the GNCC title. Baylor is a former member of the US Junior Trophy Team (most recently in Spain in 2016) and just wrapped up the 2018 Kenda Full Gas Sprint Enduro Series title.Shan Moore

Zach Bell is a standout motocrosser turned off-road racer and AMA District 37 Big 6 Grand Prix Series champion. He will be riding a Husqvarna 300 in the E3 class.Shan Moore

Grant Baylor is fresh off of back-to-back wins in the Kenda AMA National Enduro Series and he will lead the US Junior Trophy Team on a KTM.Shan Moore

Ben Kelley, along with Josh Toth, fills out the Junior Trophy Team alongside Grant Baylor. Kelley won the XC2 class in this year’s GNCC series.Shan Moore

Josh Toth finished up the national enduro series with a solid runner-up finish in Alabama. The Connecticut rider will be putting his woods skills to work in Chile.Shan Moore

Top Women’s motocross star, Tarah Geiger, will be heading up a strong US Women’s squad that will be trying to take down the Aussie Women’s team.Shan Moore

Brandy Richards returns as a member and she, along with Geiger and Becca Sheets, will be looking to improve on the second-place finish they posted last year.Shan Moore