Sherco rider Matt Phillips informed ADB that his decision not to compete in this year’s International Six Days Enduro (ISDE) is due to poor eyesight.
The Tasmanian will undergo laser eye surgery following the last round of the Maxxis FIM EnduroGP World Championship on September 10/11, 2016. Phillips will not have enough time to recover from the laser eye surgery before the ISDE.
Phillips also suggested that following last year’s ISDE, which was spoiled by team protests and widespread cheating from other nation’s Senior Trophy Teams, he wasn’t interested in returning.
Phillips had few opportunities to undergo laser eye surgery with a busy race schedule for the majority of the year.
Phillips has been a regular face in the Australian ISDE team since making his debut at the 2011 ISDE in Finland. The Tasmanian, who has a strong background in motocross, burst onto the international off-road racing scene, winning a special stage on day one of the 2011 event.
Since then he has been one of the riders to beat at every ISDE and helped the Australian Senior Trophy Team finish second in 2012, fourth in 2013, sixth in 2014 and first in the drama-filled 2015 ISDE.
The recently announced four-rider Australian Senior Trophy Team of Daniel Milner, Josh Strang, Daniel Sanders and Lachlan Stanford will head to Spain in October for 2016 ISDE without Phillips.
Phillips plans on competing in the 2016 Australian Four Day Enduro (A4DE) and Wildwood Rock Extreme in November and is looking forward to returning to Tasmania to catch up with family and friends after nine and a half months on the road.