ISDE: US World Trophy Team Drops To Fourth

Shan Moore | November 4, 2014
Charlie Mullins

Charlie Mullins suffered a crash on Day Two in Argentina. Photo courtesy Future 7 Media.

There was some bad news today for the US World Trophy Team, which dropped to fourth in team standings after team rider Charlie Mullins suffered a couple of crashes during day two at the 89th ISDE in San Juan, Argentina.

Already short a man after losing Zach Osborne to a mechanical issue on Monday, the US World Trophy Team entered today’s competition with no margin for error, and Mullins’ mishap cost the team dearly.

France maintains a solid lead in the Team competition and is now six minutes and 43 second ahead of Australia, with Spain now in third, about 36 seconds ahead of the Yanks.

Individually, Taylor Robert won the first and last special tests today and continues to lead all Americans. He is fourth overall in the individual standings and second in the E3 class. Meanwhile, teammate Kailub Russell and Thad DuVall are seventh and ninth overall, respectively.

World Trophy Team member Mike Brown had a good day and is currently fourth in the E3 class. Meanwhile, Mullins dropped to 35th in the E2 class after his crash. 

There was good news for the US Junior Trophy Team, which moved from fourth to second at the end of the day on the strength of strong rides by Justin Jones. Jones is second among all Junior riders and is 29th overall and eighth in E2. Australia still controls the race lead but faces strong opposition from a motivated Americans.

US Junior rider Trevor Bollinger is the top American in the E1 class at 17th.

In the Women’s division, Team US is second behind the Aussies, with Rachel Gutish third in the individual standings, while teammates Mandi Mastin and Sarah Baldwin are holding down fifth and sixth, respectively.

Pierre-Alexandre Renet (Husqvarna) tops the individual overall standings for the second day running. He is just ahead of fellow Frenchman Christophe Nambotin (KTM). With all six of their riders positioned inside the top 20, France is already looking increasingly difficult to beat.

Stepping things up a notch, day three of the ISDE will see a new course with sandy and rocky special tests to challenge the competitors as they reach the midway point in the event.

 

Shan Moore | Contributing Editor

Moore covers all facets of off-road racing for Cycle News – from AMA Supercross and Motocross to GNCC and National Hare Scrambles events.