ISDE 2022: Visa issues force Tayla Jones out of Team Australia

Visa issues have forced multiple ISDE winner Tayla Jones to withdraw from Team Australia’s squad for the 2022 International Six Days Enduro in France, Ebony Nielsen fills the boots of the six-times winner.

Motorcycling Australia has today announced a revised line-up for their Women’s trophy team packing up and heading to France for this year’s ISDE

In a statement they say: “Due to visa issues, Tayla Jones has unfortunately been forced to withdraw from the 2022 team. Coming in to replace her is Queenslander Ebony Nielsen who currently sits third in the 2022 AORC EW class. Nielsen has had a fantastic career to date as both a competitor and enduro coach.”

ebony-nielsen

That’s a blow to the Australia team naturally because of Tayla’s huge experience but quite obviously because she’s one of the fastest female riders on the planet. But sicne their last victory in Chile, having won the Women’s Trophy and outright classification multiple times over the last 15 years or so, Jones crashed out of the 2019 ISDE in Portugal and then subsequently hasn’t raced the event since due to pandemic restrictions.

Don Atkins replaced by AJ Roberts at the helm

Also joining Team Australia at the 2022 ISDE will be new team manager AJ Roberts who is replacing long-serving industry stalwart Don Atkins.

For MA CEO Peter Doyle, AJ is the ideal person to step in for the ISDE in 2022: “AJ has all of the experience and knowledge required to help this team achieve greatness. The foundations are right and the legacy left by Don Atkins offers this team a genuine chance at victory. I want to thank Don for all his hard work and dedication to; Team Australia over the journey. I also want to wish Ebony the very best for the 2022 ISDE in France.”