Aubert wins the 2007 ISDE while Yamaha claims the Manufacturers title
Aboard his WR450F Frenchman Johnny Aubert has produced his first overall ISDE win at the 82nd running of the International Six Days Enduro held at La Serena, Chile. Topping the Enduro 2 class by being the fastest rider overall his efforts contributed substantially in helping his Yamaha UFO Corse A team to win the Manufacturers award. Johnny's blistering speed also played a key role in helping France place second behind Italy in the World Trophy team competition.Viewed by many as being the rider that would battle it out with reigning overall ISDE winner Juha Salminen for the top spot in the Enduro 2 class Aubert's six-day event started in the best possible way as he won the E2 class ahead of Salminen on day one. With Juha then fighting back and winning day two ahead of Johnny on day three Aubert struck again to win the E2 class for a second day. As day four drew to a close things changed dramatically at the top of the E2 class as Salminen would take no further part in the competition as of the start of day five having run into mechanical problems. With no other rider having got close to matching Aubert's pace the Frenchman responded by continuing to ride faultlessly and as well as opening up a commanding E2 class lead he also moved to the top of the unofficial overall standings.
With the event nearing its close, and with France comfortably ahead of Sweden in the World trophy team competition, Aubert continued to set an outstanding pace until the end of day six, He recorded the fastest E2 class time during the final day's motocross races which saw him finish a sizeable four minutes ahead of his nearest E2 class rival Alessandro Belometti.
Competing in only his second ever ISDE Johnny Aubert claimed not only the overall win, as well as the number one spot at the top of the Enduro 2 class, but also ensured that Yamaha finished the event at the top of the Manufacturer's class. During the six days of competition the Yamaha UFO Corse A team only failed to top the Manufacture's class once.
Although unable to match the pace of Aubert, UFO Corse Yamaha rider Fabrizio Dini finished the Chilean event in an impressive fourth overall in the Enduro 2 class, which helped Italy claim the top spot in the World trophy Team competition. Riding consistently during the event Fabrizio finished fifth on day one before dropping on spot to sixth on day two but then improved to fourth on both days three and four. Then claiming ninth on day five knowing that he could ill afford to take any risks that might jeopardise Italy's chances of winning the World Trophy team competition, Fabrizio then claimed the seventh fastest E2 time during the final motocross races to put the finishing touches to his impressive week long performance.Johnny Aubert, UFO Corse Yamaha, Enduro 2 class, first Å“It has been an incredible week for me. I was confident that I could get a good result before the race, but in the ISDE anything can happen. Winning the E2 class on day one was a great start. Juha Salminen rode really well on day two and it looked like we would have a great fight during the competition. But when he had some problems and wasn't in the competition any more I had a good lead in the class and was able to ride without pressure. It was a tough event, but I enjoyed it. I had no real problems all week so things worked out well for me, my team and the French team finishing runner up in the team trophy competition.
