TeamGB is targeting success across all three Trophy categories when the 100th edition of the 6DAYS® FIM Enduro of Nations gets underway in Portugal next week (12-17 October).
The Auto-Cycle Union has selected strong Men’s, Women’s and Junior Trophy teams for six demanding days of competition against 500 other riders representing 30 nations. The Men’s team is expertly managed by Joe Wootton, while the Women’s squad will perform under the watchful eye of Fionn Griffiths.
Great Britain heads into the event – based in Grândola – with recent winning pedigree. The Men’s Trophy team claimed victory in 2022, ending a 69-year wait for the title, and this year’s squad boasts considerable international experience.
Ten-time World Enduro Champion Brad Freeman and EnduroGP regular Nathan Watson will both ride BETA machinery, while Jamie McCanney lines up on a Triumph. Reigning EnduroGB Champion Jed Etchells is the reserve rider on his Sherco.
For Freeman, Portugal marks a return to the ISDE for the first time since 2019.“The mood’s great,” he said. “All the Trophy team are good friends outside of this event anyway, so we’ve got a good group of riders. It’s been a few years since I’ve been here, but I’ve been racing the World Championship consistently and I think we’re all ready to have a good race.”
The conditions for next week’s race could prove as significant as outright pace. Portugal is currently hot and exceptionally dry, so Freeman is expecting dust to become one of the defining factors during the opening days.
“The tests look good and fast, but I think the race is going to be very much decided by dust,” he explained. “Our starting position isn’t ideal, so the first couple of days are going to be a challenge and we’ll all have to be extra vigilant.”
TeamGB also carries serious ambition into the Women’s Trophy competition.
Double British Champion Nieve Holmes (Sherco) will ride alongside Rosie Rowett (RIEJU) and KTM-mounted Lucy Barker, who arrives in Portugal after finishing fifth in the FIM Women’s Motocross World Championship.
Holmes has enjoyed the best season of her career, winning another British title and taking third in the World Championship. This will be her seventh ISDE appearance.
“It’s always such a proud moment to be selected to ride for your country,” Holmes said. “It feels like yesterday that I was getting ready for my first one. The nerves and excitement are exactly the same.”
She believes the British team has the speed to challenge for top honours in Portugal.“We’ve got a really strong team this year and the tests look well suited to all three of us,” she added. “There’s no reason why we can’t push for the podium and hopefully the higher positions within that bracket.”
The physical test for riders will increase as the week progresses. Holmes expects a combination of sand and hard-packed to become increasingly demanding as hundreds of riders pass through the tests.
“The majority of the tests are sand and the rest are hard-pack, so they’re going to rough up and become really physical,” she said. “With the heat as well, it’s definitely going to be a tough week.”
Britain’s Junior Trophy challenge will come from KTM-mounted Sam Hughes and Callum Hughes, alongside Triumph rider Jack Keenan.
Keenan is preparing for his first ISDE but heads to Portugal encouraged by his pace in domestic and international competition this season.
“We’ve got a good group of people around us, especially the Trophy lads, who have been giving me good advice about what needs to be done,” he said. “I’m looking forward to it and not feeling any nerves at the moment.”
For Keenan, managing six days of competition will demand the right approach as much as physical fitness. “You know you’ve got six days and around eight hours on the bike each day,” he explained. “I feel fit and I know I’m capable of doing it. The biggest adjustment over any other event I’ve done is making sure the bike is prepared well and reliable for six days of hard running.
“Looking at our chances overall, it’s going to be an extremely tough event, but I think it’s realistic for us to be targeting a Junior Trophy podium. We all know we can do it.”
The competitive action will start on Monday for TeamGB, with six tests being tackled on each day and a total route distance of 1500km.
TeamGB’s 6DAYS® FIM Enduro of Nations bid is being supported by a group of passionate sponsors. The ACU and team gives special thanks to:
DAY 1 – CJ Bird Transport
Day 2 – Wootton Tree Services
Day 3 – NOCO
Day 4 – Mid Shires Catering Equipment
Day 5 – Monsters of Dirt
Day 6 – EnduroTyres and Southampton Freight Services