France

A former powerhouse of the FIM International Six Days’ of Enduro World Trophy with six wins between 2008 and 2014, France went into the ninety-eighth edition of the oldest event on the FIM calendar without a victory since 2017, but that all changed in October in Silleda in the Galicia region of Spain. The NOCO FIM 6DAYS®is a true team event and the French quartet of Theophile Espinasse (Beta), Hugo Blanjoue (Honda), Leo Le Quere (TM) and Julien Roussaly (Sherco) worked together to lead the USA by just over two minutes after day one. Day two saw Spain take up the chase as France extended its advantage and by the halfway point of the event the gap back to second was over seven minutes. The defending champions and winners of the competition three times since 2016 when the NOCO FIM6DAYS®was last held in Spain, the USA fought its way back up into second on day four, but with just the final day to go France led by over seven-and-a-half minutes. With everything resting on the Final Cross Test Galicia, the French riders maintained their compo sure in wet and muddy conditions to return their nation to the top.

PALMARES

FIM International Six Days’ of Enduro World Trophy Champions: 1988, 2001, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012,2013, 2014, 2017, 2024

FEARLESS FRENCH TAKE THE CROWN

The 92nd running of the FIM International Six Days Enduro (ISDE) in Brive, France, was a memorable one for the home nation, who took a clear victory in the FIM World Trophy despite being made to sweat through the final two days with Christophe Nambotin (KTM) forced to ride with broken bones in his hand.

Day one of the dramatic event saw defending champions the USA run into immediate trouble, with Thad Duvall (Husqvarna) crashing on the opening special test and badly injuring his left wrist. Along with Chile and Japan the USA were one of three teams who saw one of their riders’ fail to reach the finish of day one, whilst in stark contrast the French celebrated victory despite Loic Larrieu (Yamaha) picking up a one-minute time penalty.

Competing over the exact same course on day two, a French team that also included Jeremy Tarroux (Sherco) and Christophe Charlier (Husqvarna) extended their advantage over Australia to four minutes and nineteen seconds and then had three riders in the top four on day three as they edged further clear. France again dominated day four but their seemingly unstoppable charge to the title was thrown into doubt as Nambotin picked up a serious hand injury, allowing Australia to take a 28-second chunk out of their lead on day five. 

With questions over Nambotin's fitness for the final-day motocross races, even a sizeable seven-minute and thirty-two second cushion did not look safe although all four French riders made it to the line without problems, Nambotin producing one of the most hard-fought performances of the event to ensure the home nation took the spoils. Final day victory for Australia secured second  place ahead of Finland.