Tuesday November 4, 2014
We’re only 2 days into six and it’s amazing how many things can transpire here at the Six Days that can change things up in a minute. With Osborne out due to a mechanical failure yesterday, the U.S. Trophy Team had no margin for error. Early on in the day, Team USA was making up ground on France. Today I was working at Special Test 2/6 and our guys were all laying down very consistent test scores. The French and Aussies had some incredibly fast scores, but from my observation of the times, the U.S. Team were all very close.
Later in the day, Charlie Mullins had some challenges in a test that set him back and without his lowest score able to be dropped, it has dug a hole for the Americans. Although that is a major disappointment, that is the nature of the Six Days and there are still four days of racing.
The other big news is how dominate the U.S. Club Team racers have been. Nine out of the first 10 overall Club racers are from the U.S. and several of them are laying down test scores that are competitive with most Trophy teams. However, this presented some unique logistical challenges today at all of the pits. Rather than service team members being able to focus on helping a handful of racers at a time, they were instead greeted with the challenge of having the majority of the entire Team in the support checkpoints at the same time.
I was working a Special Test and at one point today, I had about 10 fanny packs and drink systems draped from my arms while the entire team was in the test at the same time. The fun part of this however, was watching the team be competitive among themselves, and encouraging one another and comparing test scores.
The weather has changed a lot as well. Yesterday, crew members were huddled around in vans and cars staying warm. Today, the sun was out, the sky was clear, and by the afternoon when everything was wrapped up at the Paddock it was getting really hot. The next few days are going to be what we had originally anticipated….hot.
Because I was at the same test today, and the fact that all the U.S. riders came in within a very concentrated period of time, requiring my help, I was extremely limited in being able to take pictures. I did grab a few, and have shared them below, but I anticipate tomorrow being able to get to a few more locations and get a lot more shots of the Team.
I think I was fortunate to be at the test I was assigned since the rock did not create as much dust. It seems unanimous among the racers that they don’t want to see Test 1/5 again. That test has just been destroyed and Josh said the silt was so deep that it felt like you were riding on water.
Tomorrow, riders will prepare for significantly different terrain tests. It’s all about sand tomorrow.
Taylor Robert has been the top American the past two days. This afternoon, he threw down a blazing fast score in Special Test 6 where I was working. While everyone else’s scores had gotten slightly slower by the afternoon due to the test deteriorating (huge braking bumps in the beach rock), Taylor scored his fastest time in that test, when it was at its roughest.
Charlie Mullins this morning, entering Test 2/6 behind French Junior Trophy rider Larrieu.
Aussie rider Josh Strang.
This scoring hut sits between the transponder towers at both the start and finish. When the rider completes the test, it flashes their number and their score for the test. Most teams record the scores of their top riders and their closest competition so they can compute standings at the moment since the Live scoring website isn’t available immediately at all locations.
French riders Christophe Nambotin and Pierre Alexandre Renet at completion of the test today. I know most Americans, unless they are big fans of the World Enduro Circuit or ISDE, aren’t very familiar with these guys, but I’m here to tell you they’re the real deal. It’s crazy how fast and dominant the French have been the past several years.
Taylor Robert on the gas through the finish of the test.
Mike Brown railing a berm on the big Husky 501.
Justin Jones continuing to impress not just in the Junior Trophy ranks, but with scores that would make him competitive at the World Trophy level.
Grant Baylor. The Junior Team is still doing very well and riding consistent.
Swedish Junior Trophy rider getting some encouragement from his team. After a few days, you become pretty adept at spotting the different countries based on their jerseys and helmets.
U.S. Women’s World Trophy rider Sarah Baldwin entering Test 2/6 this morning.
This is the Italian that is currently leading the C1 class in front of Josh. He’s very fast, but was the only non-American in the Top 10 of all club riders (inclusive of C1, C2, and C3).
Josh this morning starting Test 2.
This was the view this morning as U.S. racers were lined up with each other. So cool to see all the U.S. skunk stripe helmets in a row. This is Josh, then Cody Schafer, and then Travis Coy (Travis in the transponder gate). They rode together all day and will likely do the same tomorrow based on how close they were today.
Brian Storrie on the gas through Test 2.
Paul Krause
__________________
Mike
Mar 4 Nov - 15:00
