Image: Jonty Edmunds.

Team Australia will defend its Women’s Trophy title at this year’s 2016 FIM International Six Day Enduro (ISDE) event in Spain on 11-16 October, Motorcycling Australia (MA) has made official.

The triple world champion squad will be backed by Yamaha bLU cRU this season, fielding Yamaha-mounted trio Tayla Jones, Jemma Wilson and Jessica Gardiner for this year’s campaign.

“Yamaha are excited to be the naming-rights sponsors of the Yamaha bLU cRU Women’s Trophy Team for 2016,” commented Yamaha motorsport manager Ray Howard. “Australia boasts some of the best enduro racers in the world and our success at the ISDE has been impressive in recent years.

“We are delighted to be able to assist the girls in their endeavors to secure a historic fourth championship at the ISDE and put their talents on display at a world championship level. We look forward to watching them compete and hopefully securing another world championship for Australia and Yamaha.”

MA acting CEO Peter Doyle expressed his satisfaction at the women heading over to represent Australia to defend their championship as well as the support of the team from Yamaha Motor Australia.

“It’s great to be able to announce the Yamaha bLU cRU Women’s Trophy team with the backing of Yamaha Motor Australia. With the assistance of Yamaha, it’s enabled the team to be in a position to defend their titles in Spain this year and I’m sure they will do MA, Yamaha and themselves proud.

“Yamaha has long been a major supporter of not only riders and teams, but off-road in general in Australia, and we are grateful for their contribution to these talented riders to again show the world we they can do and hopefully successfully defend a championship which they have made their own in recent years.”

With government funding slashed for the Australian teams this year and the teams currently seeking additional crowd-funding, the World and Junior Trophy teams currently remain to be announced according to MA.