MOTORCYCLING AUSTRALIA:

The 2009 Wellard Australian ISDE Team had mixed results on the opening day of competition at the event, with the Senior Team and Women’s Team well placed in the overall standings.

Figueira da Foz in Portugal was baked in sunshine and 30-plus degree weather, as the competition boasting over 400 riders got underway.

It was a day to forget for our Junior Trophy Team, with first-timer Josh Green being forced to sit out the rest of the event after his engine blew up at the second last Special Test.

To add to the woes for the Junior Team, Andrew Lloyd (145th) suffered major bike damage and accumulated a large amount of time as he pulled it apart at the final workstation.

Geoff Braico (63rd) and Nick Beattie (67th) were the other two Junior Team riders, and together with Lloyd will look to improve on the Team’s overall day one result on day two.

It was a much brighter day for the Senior Trophy Team, who led by Toby Price had a good day of combined results.

Price finished the day 18th outright, while Stefan Merriman (26th), Chris Hollis (33rd), Jarrod Bewley (37th) and Glen Kearney (49th) all finished inside the top-50.

Kirk Hutton also had a good day to finish 59th outright.

While the Senior Team riders took a cautious approach on the opening day, they are all still alive in the event, and will look to turn it up when they get back on their bikes on day two.

For the Women’s Team, it was all smiles as our three riders got through their first big test with flying colours.

Jemma Wilson led the way to finish day one as the fourth best placed female rider overall, while Alison Parker (8th) and Jacqui Jones (10th) also produced great results.

All three riders were happy to get through the day, and will look to build on their great start tomorrow.

The second day of the event will see all riders going over the same terrain and racing the same tests as they did on day one.