US World Trophy Team member Thad DuVall Injures Wrist
The US ISDE Team’s 2017 campaign didn’t get off since planned with the US World Trophy Team getting knocked out of legislation in the very first test of the day when Thad DuVall crashed just four turns from the finish, injuring his wrist. DuVall tried to keep going, and also rode the over 50-plus mls of transfer to the second check, but had to call it a day at that point due to the pain. His plan would be to fly home early and get it evaluated.
Four riders make up each FIM World Trophy Team and all four rides count on each day, so if a rider DNF’s a day that in effect disqualifies the entire team. World Trophy Team riders Taylor Robert, Kailub Russell, and Ryan Sipes will still be able to continue to compete for individual honors, and Robert, who received the individual overall last year in Spain, is definitely sitting second overall individually plus second in the E2 class, nearly seven seconds behind Christophe Nambotin. The Arizona native told us he’s confident he can make up the distinction and give Nambotin a run pertaining to his money.
The US Junior Trophy Team, made up of Josh Toth, Grant Baylor and Lane Michael, sits 4th after Day One, but are still within striking distance of winning the division. Sweden leads the division with a total time of 57: 57. 43, while team USA is all about a minute and seven seconds back. Don’t count the US Juniors just yet, Grant had a top five overall with the tests and seems to be getting faster with each test.
Despite a mechanised problem by Becca Sheets, the united states Women’s team, composed of Kacy Martinez, Brandy Richards, and Sheets, rests third overall after one day, plus since not every day counts, the Women’s team is still in good shape. Spain leads this division after 1, which includes Laia Sanz, and Sydney, which includes Tayla Roberts, who has been competing in the States this year.
Tomorrow will run the same course as today, and most of the Club riders, who ride the trail last, say it is getting super rough. It will be fascinating to see how things change with tougher trail.
Taylor Robert sits 2nd in the E3 class after 1 day of competition behind French driver Christophe Nambotin. Last year, Thad DuVall rode the E3 class on the 300 two-stroke, but this year Taylor is riding the class on a 500, which he says he enjoys riding.
Photo by Shan Moore
Thad DuVall pushes their bike from the staging area to the start. Unfortunately, the Rockstar Power Husqvarna Factory Rider didn’t get too much further than this, injuring his wrist at the end of Test One whenever he tucked the front end in the slippery patch of grass.
Photograph by Shan Moore
Former Supercross racer, Ryan Sipes, can be riding the E1 class one a 250. The Kentucky driver is fifth in class but feels he can improve on that as he gets used to the smaller displacement bicycle, which he hasn’t ridden in a while. Sipes competed regularly on a 250 in Supercross, and says it handles the corners a lot easier than a bigger bike.
Photo simply by Shan Moore
Grant Baylor had a good day and rests 10th overall in the E2 division. The South Carolina rider actually finished fifth overall in one of the tests. Offer helps anchor the US Junior Trophy Team, which sits fourth right after one day.
Photo by Shan Moore
KTM’s Kacy Martinez leg techinques up a roost in the Enduro test. The US Women’s team rests third behind Spain and Australia.
Photo by Shan Moore
Taylor Robert finished third within two different tests and sits second overall after the first day of competition. The Arizona rider says he feels he can turn his performance today and is planning to repeat his individual overall earn from a year ago in Spain.
Picture by Shan Moore
Layne Michael had a steady day plus told us he didn’t reduce any time from hitting the ground, meaning the Husqvarna kept it on two wheels all day.
Photo simply by Shan Moore
N-Fab/Am Pro Yamaha rider Josh Toth will be 13th in the E1 class after one day. The Connecticut rider won the Club individual award last year in Spain.
Photo by Shan Moore
Kailub Russell had a few get-offs in the second test and informed us it took him a while to get back in the groove of ISDE riding. Kailub said it’s challenging to get caught up after a bad very first day at ISDE. Here he modifications a tire during the work period at the end of the day.
Photo by Shan Moore
Thad told us he was more worried about letting straight down his team than he was about his injury. The West Va rider came in on a roll, having just won four-straight national enduros.
Photo by Shan Moore
One of the US chase bikes rests idle after a long day of chasing riders around the course.
Photograph by Shan Moore