American ISDE Teams for 2015 Announced

America’s ISDE team will consist of many of the same players that have challenged for the event win over the past two years.

The American Motorcyclist Association has released the official roster for the U.S. World Trophy and U.S. Junior Trophy teams that will represent the USA at the 90th International Six Days Enduro (ISDE) in Kosice, Slovakia, September 7-12.

The World Trophy Team will feature many of the same riders who capped off strong performances over the past two ISDE events to help Team USA finish second in both event. The World Trophy Team will feature Mike Brown, Thad Duvall, Taylor Robert, Kailub Russell, Ryan Sipes and Gary Sutherlin. The most veteran rider on the team, Brown has been selected as this year’s team captain. The U.S. Junior Trophy Team will include Grant Baylor, Steward Baylor, Justin Jones and Layne Michael.

AMA Director of Racing Bill Cumbow said that ISDE is one of the most historic and prestigious motorsports events in the world, and the AMA is honored to have a strong selection of homegrown talent to compete against the world’s best.

“We’re appreciative of the support this effort receives from the industry, and we’re confident that the United States is sending the right team to get the job done in 2015, from the riders to team management to the support crew,” Cumbow said.

Antti Kallonen, KTM North America’s off-road racing manager, will manage the U.S. ISDE effort this year.

“I’m happy once again to be able to assemble a group of fast riders for both the World Trophy and Junior Trophy teams,” Kallonen said. “This year’s event being held on European soil is going to make it little harder competition for us than last year’s event, but our goals haven’t changed and we are aiming to get on the top step with the Trophy team.”

The 2014 ISDE in Argentina was a banner event for the U.S. team. The Junior Trophy Team won its division for the third time in event history, while the World Trophy Team finished second. The United States has never won the Trophy division, although it also finished second in 1982 and 2013.

Kallonen said that despite the European teams’ home-track advantage, he is confident that Team USA can once again challenge for the overall win.

“Mike [Brown], our captain, is in winning form here in the States, and his experience will help and guide our entire team,” Kallonen said. “Kailub [Russell], who was the top American in 2014, is making a move to the E1 class this year, and our expectations are high with him. [We are] hoping he can battle for the overall win.”

Kallonen said that the Slovakian conditions and terrain will be similar to what riders face in the AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country Series where Russell is the defending champion and is undefeated thus far in the 2015 series. Duvall and Sipes are also GNCC regulars

“Thad [Duvall] has posted consistent top-three results this year and knows what it takes at Six Days to get the job done,” Kallonen said. “Sipes is a new addition to our Trophy team. His improved results and his sprint speed caught my attention this year, and I feel he is a good fit for the team. Gary is used to more West Coast conditions, but his pure speed and determination are impressive, and he will adapt quickly to the terrain in Slovakia. Our sixth rider, Taylor, is returning to race the E3 class and is looking for redemption from last year’s ISDE, where a small issue took him out of the overall win contention.”

Kallonen is also optimistic about the U.S. Junior Team’s chances.

“Three of the last year’s winning riders are returning to the team again, and our goal is simple: Repeat our championship,” he said. “Justin [Jones], who was the team’s carrying force last year, is returning to defend his championship. His pure sprint speed is going to play a key role in the results. The Baylor brothers, Steward and Grant, are both as fast as ever, and the terrain in Slovakia should suit them very well. A new addition to our Six Days program is Layne Michael. He is a very fast sprinter and, like the Baylors, is comfortable on terrain similar to Slovakia’s.”

Brown races for Rockstar Husqvarna Factory Racing and will ride a Husqvarna FE501 at the ISDE. Duvall is a member of the KR4 Husqvarna team and will ride a Husqvarna FE350. FMF KTM Factory Racing’s Robert will ride a KTM 500XC-W. Russell, also an FMF KTM Factory Racing member, will ride a KTM 250XC-F. Rockstar Husqvarna’s Sipes will ride a Husqvarna FE350. Sutherlin, an FMF KTM Factory Racing supported rider, will ride a KTM 450XC-F.

Junior Team member Grant Baylor, who rides for AmPro Yamaha, will race a YZ450F. Steward Baylor, who is KTM supported, will ride a KTM 450XC-F. Honda-backed Jones will ride a Honda CRF450R, and Michael will ride a Honda CRF250R at the ISDE.

Three premier teams represent the United States at the ISDE. In addition to the six-member World Trophy Team and the Junior Trophy Team, which includes four riders younger than 23 years old, the U.S. fields a Women’s Trophy Team at the event. Several club team members also represent the United States at Six Days.

The AMA will announce the full contingent of U.S. riders following qualifier rounds May 2-3 in Newburg, West Virginia, and May 30-31 in Idaho City, Idaho.