2023 FIM INTERNATIONAL SIX DAYS OF ENDURO WOMEN’S WORLD TROPHY
LEADING LADIES!
Inaugural winners of the FIM International Six Days’ Enduro (ISDE) Women’s World Trophy in 2007, the USA then endured a twelve-year wait before claiming it a second time and following that 2019 victory they have now won it on two further occasions – in 2021 and again this season.
The sole remaining member of the winning team in Portugal in 2019, Brandy Richards – KTM savoured the sweet taste of victory again in 2021 in Italy before completing her hat-trick in Argentina in 2023.
Joined by Rachel Gutish – GASGAS, who was also part of the 2021 team that triumphed in Lombardia, along with Korie Steede – KTM, Richards and her team-mates wrote their way into the record books this year.
The event is not just about speed – endurance also plays a huge part – so the USA’s eventual huge winning margin of just under seven hours does not tell the full tale. The reality is that the American trio were the only women’s team to get all their riders to the finish line, although they were already in control when their closest competitors Australia lost a rider on day four.
Following the opening day of competition, it was Australia who led the USA by only two-and-a-half seconds, but on day two the Americans powered their way into a lead of almost five minutes. Day three saw them more than double this advantage and when Australia lost a rider on day four it was effectively game over as long as the USA could get all their riders across the line on day six, which they did.
Posting the best result by a female rider on all six days, Richards was the stand-out star of a rock-solid team effort that was deservedly rewarded with overall victory.
PALMARES
FIM International Six Days’ Enduro Women’s World Trophy Champions: 2007, 2019, 2021, 2023
2021 FIM INTERNATIONAL SIX DAYS OF ENDURO WOMEN’S WORLD TROPHY
BACK-TO-BACK BRILLIANCE!
Winners of the inaugural FIM International Six Days of Enduro (ISDE) Women’s World Trophy all the way back in 2007, Team USA then had to wait another twelve years to claim it again following periods of domination by first French and then Australian fast females.
After Team USA regained it in Portugal in 2019, the last time the ISDE was staged prior to this year, the American trio of Brandy Richards (KTM), Rachel Gutish (Husqvarna) and Britney Gallegos (Husqvarna) were defending champions this year and they did not disappoint.
With just Richards surviving from the victorious 2019 team, what the USA may have lacked in experience they made up for with sheer speed and enthusiasm and the three amigos bossed the class from the outset.
Completing the first day of action three minutes and eighteen seconds ahead of Spain – the biggest advantage out of all the national team categories – they backed this up on day two to complete the opening third of the competition almost six minutes ahead.
With Great Britain proving to be its closest competitor, the USA hardly missed a beat and at the halfway point led by nearly nine minutes as Richards put in a captain’s performance.
Continuing to power clear of the chasing pack, Team USA was more than thirteen minutes ahead heading into the final day’s motocross race which Richards won with Gutish third just to hammer home their dominance.
PALMARES
FIM International Six Days of Enduro Women’s World Trophy Champions - 2021, 2019, 2007
2019 FIM ISDE WOMEN’S WORLD TROPHY
UNITED STATES’ WOMEN SEAL HISTORIC VICTORY
Matching their male counterparts, the American ladies created their own piece of Enduro history, with the trio of Rebecca Sheets (KTM), Brandy Richards (KTM) and Tarah Gieger (Honda) securing United States’ second FIM Women’s World Trophy win, their first since topping the inaugural running of the category in 2007. Bravely putting an end to Australia’s six-year winning streak, the United States rightfully earned their place on the top step of the podium in Portimao.
“The nerves were really high coming into the final day, I think everyone was so relieved to cross the finish line as World champions,’ commented Brandy Richards. “We’ve had a brilliant week and aside from some minor moments, we’ve been strong every day and I think that’s been the key this year.”
“The FIM ISDE is so tough - it wears you down, but you’ve just got to keep fighting. We did that and now finally the victory is ours. Also, with the boys winning the FIM World Trophy class too, it’s certainly put the United States on top!”
With a healthy margin over Great Britain in third, Germany put in a solid final day of riding to claim their place as runners-up in the category. In what has been a successful FIM ISDE debut, Great Britain took third overall and are sure to become title contender in future editions.
Sweden held off Spain to take fifth, while Portugal will be pleased with their efforts on home soil for sixth.