2025 ISDE WRAP – DAY 5

Starting out the day with almost seven minutes in hand over Sweden in the World Trophy classification, leaders Italy welcomed their sizeable advantage over their nearest rivals as they began the day. Easing into the tests and assessing the conditions, they were able to avoid any pitfalls that came their way.

Across a shortened day of four special tests, they stretched their advantage to almost eight minutes. Barring any unforeseen circumstances during tomorrow’s Final Cross Test, Italy are odds-on favourites to win the World Trophy competition for the first time since 2021.

“With difficult conditions today, it was important to be safe and stay in front,” told Italy’s Samuele Bernardini (Honda). “As a team, we all did what we needed to do, and now the end of the 6DAYS® Italia is in sight. Tomorrow, I hope to get a good start in the Final Cross Test and give my best.”

In the battle to become the World Trophy vice-champions, Sweden put more distance between themselves and France in third. Another strong performance saw them increase their lead to just under two minutes.

For France, hopes of defending their World Trophy crown have all but disappeared. Lying third, but almost ten minutes behind Italy, their goal during the Day Six Final Cross Test will be to secure the third step of the podium.

As has been the case all week, the fight for fourth remains fierce between Spain and the United States, while Australia in sixth wait to capitalise on any errors from either nation. The United States are now back up to fourth and hold a thirty-six-second advantage over Spain in fifth, with Australia one-minute-and-four-seconds further back in sixth. Expect the outcome of this intense battle to go down to the wire tomorrow.

In the Junior World Trophy competition, the battle for victory is at a stalemate between leaders Italy and France in second. France managed to take their third straight day win, but with Italy again drawing level, they were unable to make any real inroads into the Italians.

With a winning margin of just half-of-a-second, France could be both pleased and frustrated with the result. Italy, showing once again to have the measure of the French, are withstanding intense pressure from their rivals. As a result, Italy still leads France by fifty-nine seconds entering Day Six.

Sitting third, Australia have now slipped further back from the leading two nations on Day Five and trail Italy by three-minutes-and-twenty-seven-seconds. However, they hold a nine-minute buffer over the United States in fourth. The United States enjoyed a strong Day Five and extended their advantage over Spain in fifth to two-minutes-and-twenty-seconds.

“It was a tricky day with the weather, so it was a case of being safe and not making any major mistakes,” said Spain’s Alex Puey (RIEJU). “We are in a good position as a team, holding fifth with a chance of better, so we will keep pushing on until the very end.”

With an almost insurmountable lead in the MOTOREX Women’s World Trophy class, the United States have a virtual grasp on winning this year’s 6DAYS® Italia. Now an incredible thirty-five-minutes-and-forty-six-seconds clear of their nearest rivals Australia, victory tomorrow will see them equal Australia on the all-time win list with six.

Day Five was an important one for Australia in second position. Fending off the challenges of France, they were able to build a gap of almost five-minutes over the French ahead of tomorrow’s final day of racing.

France put up a good fight throughout this week, in what proved to be their most competitive 6DAYS® in recent years. With one day remaining, their goal is to secure third or better on the final podium. Host nation Italy are fourth, with Great Britain in fifth.

Despite nursing an injured hand, Spain’s Josep Garcia (KTM) began Day Five in fighting spirit. Immediately showing no signs of weakness, the Spaniard placed fastest in the opening special test of the day by six seconds. Italy’s Andrea Verona (GASGAS), Day Four winner, topped the following two special tests, but with Garcia winning the fourth and final special test, he claimed his third outright individual day win in this year’s 6DAYS® Italia.

“With the overnight rain, conditions were not easy today,” told Garcia. “But I’m happy to be back on top again, even with some crashes and mistakes. I’m focused on pushing again tomorrow.”

With Garcia and Verona leading the way, Sweden’s Mikael Persson was again next-best to the top two. The Triumph rider has proved super consistent in this year’s race and will look to end Day Six on a high.

“It was really muddy and a lot of rain,” commented Persson. “I enjoyed it a lot and had a good day, going third again. I’m pleased with how I have been riding this week and looking forward to Day Six.”

Australia’s Kyron Bacon (Kawasaki) placed three seconds behind Persson in fourth, with Italy’s Samuele Bernardini (Honda) rounding out the top five. In total, just eighteen seconds separated Persson in third and Italy’s Kevin Cristino (Fantic) in tenth, proving just how competitive the 6DAYS® Italia is.

The outright individual win resulted in Garcia also claiming Enduro1 class honours. Persson and Bernardini completed the top three on Day Five.

Verona led home his Enduro2 classmates, with Bacon second and the United States’ Jonathan Girroir (KTM) in third.

Securing his first class win of the week, Australia’s Josh Strang (Beta) was best of his Enduro3 rivals, beating Cristino by less than two seconds, with France’s Julien Roussaly (Sherco) third.

The Women’s class was hotly contested by the United States’ pairing of Brandy Richards (KTM) and Korie Steede (Husqvarna). In the end, Richards trumped her teammate by half-of-a-second to take the win. Australia’s Danielle McDonald continues to have a great 6DAYS® Italia, placing third on Day Five.

The Club Team Award category saw MC Italia A consolidate their overall lead on Day Five. They enter Day Six with a five-minute advantage over Team Rabaconda in second, with BBM – Racing Time third. The Gottbros Team lead the Veteran Club Team category over Motosport Bozkov 2 in second, with Team Canada – Veteran third. Randy Mastin Memorial head the Women’s Club Team competition.

Day Six, and the Final Cross Test, will mark the end of this year’s 6DAYS® Italia, where all champions will be crowned at the Covo MX Track.