The fifth day of the event was the final day of enduro riding before Saturday’s final MX. The name of the game was to get all the remaining riders ‘home’ and safe, ready for the end of the 2015 ISDE.
After heavy rain at the end of Day 4, Day 5’s conditions were difficult in the morning with some very slippery sections both in the tests and throughout the rest of the lap. Mud, rocks, tree roots, off-camber corners and hills made it hard work for the already tired riders and many admitted to suffering from crashes at the beginning of the day, before the worst of the mud eventually dried out for the second lap. The second test of the day was annulled due to a modification to the track.
After Wednesday’s exclusion of eight riders including David Knight, it was decided on Friday morning that the excluded riders would be reinstated pending further investigation. But the official enquiry and final decision could still take place several weeks after the end of the event. David Knight rode on, pushing hard and even taking the opportunity to entertain the fans on some sections of the lap. He was the Trophy Team’s fastest rider on Day 5, ending up 6th fastest Overall on the day and 6th in the E2 class.
Knight’s fellow Manxman Jamie McCanney was concentrating on getting to the end of the day - he now has a lead of just over one minute in the E1 class. He was the second fastest rider on the Team on Day 5.
Tom Sagar has been enjoying the event a little more with each passing day, on the penultimate day of riding he said he was happy but also relieved after suffering a big crash on the opening test of the day.
As usual, Jamie Lewis set a time almost identical to that of Tom Sagar as the team-mates enjoy their ‘top Welshman’ battle. Sagar is 13th and Lewis 17th in the E2 class. Jack Rowland ensured the team maintained a force to be reckoned with as he clocked yet another consistent time. He is currently placed 13th in the E3 class.
The provisional reinstatement of Knight and the hard work of the other riders see the Trophy Team move back into 5th Overall.
In the Junior Team it was Kendal’s James Dent who set the best time once again, although the ISDE rookie admitted to suffering a lot with fatigue, and said he made a lot of mistakes on the first lap before settling into the drier second lap. Lee Sealey was thankfully in less pain than he was on Day 4, with his damaged ribs feeling a bit better. But the tough 18 year old is still very sore with a bad shoulder, he will be keen to see the chequered flag tomorrow. The final member of the Junior Team, Rob Johnson, said he rode better than he has all week, despite the rough and muddy tests. “I needed to adjust the jetting on my bike this morning and then after that I felt really good - I wish I could have ‘clicked’ before now but I’m happy to be at this point.” The Junior Team are also in 5th place, just 24 seconds behind the flagging French Junior team.
There is always a feeling of relief at the end of the fifth day, with the majority of the riders looking forward to the traditional Motocross that takes place at the end of the ISDE. The fun event is more about making it to the end and enjoying the ride, but with gains in position still possible it will require both GB Teams to pull together and ride at their best level.