Dabill ends Lampkin’s reign at Scottish Six Days Trial

James Dabill was crowned the Scottish Six Days Trial 2019 champion on Saturday, ending Dougie Lampkin’s run of seven straight victories and dashed the veteran’s hopes of a thirteenth victory in the world-famous event.

The battling duo went into the final day separated by just two marks with Factory Beta rider Dabill holding the advantage in a repeat of the final day scenario of 2018. However, at the same site where he snatched defeat from the very jaws of victory last year when a flat tyre caused a crushing five mark score on Ben Nevis, this year fate was on Dabill’s side.

Both riders arrived at the crucial Ben Nevis group without having parted with a single mark and the two final sections on Ben Nevis were once again the hardest of the day and arguably of the week. Lampkin arrived first and needed a big dab just after he entered the first section. Dabill, some 20 riders behind Lampkin, rode this section with ease and edged the lead to three marks.

On to the fourth and final section of the group, Dabill took a big prod after he lost the front wheel on a slippery rock, but then holding his nerve positively, he got the Beta back on track to complete the section without further loss. It was soon all over and James had set the record straight.

After the event, Dabill said: ‘There was tremendous pressure all week but I actually rode the bike quite relaxed. It obviously means a lot to beat Doug in this event as he just doesn’t give up and you can’t afford to lose a mark.’

Lmpkin took defeat gracefully but jokingly said he was ‘…going to sulk for a week!’ in the post trial interview.

Dabill was the last rider to win the Scottish before Lampkin’s incredible run and that was back in 2011 when he was also Beta mounted. It was his third SSDT win in total, his first being back in 2007 on a Future Montesa.

The best performance on the final sixth day was actually posted by Jack Price (Gas Gas) with a superb ride for zero marks, but even this effort was not quite enough to net him the final podium position. That honour was earned by the persistent Dan Peace (Sherco) whose single mark ride was enough to retain a hard earned third place.

Michael Brown finished just behind his Gas Gas teammate, Price after threatening a podium place all week while Iwan Roberts waved the TRRS flag with sixth place, a final day late five ending Iwan’s own podium chance.

World and British Women’s champ Emma Bristow, on the factory Sherco, not only stormed to a phenomenal win in the ladies class, she also finished an incredible 29th overall, almost two hundred marks ahead of Jess Bown (Scorpa) who only just failed to make the top 100. All nine girls who competed in this year’s trial performed admirably.

French debutante Benoit Dagnicourt (Vertigo) romped to the Best Newcomer’s award, dominated by foreign riders while Andy Anderson (Scorpa) eventually pulled away from Joe Dawson (TRRS) and local rider Calum Murphy (TRRS) to take Best Scottish Rider. Inverness clubman Danny Sutherland (Gas Gas) nailed the Scottish Newcomer award.

Paul Paterson senior and junior, the first father and son duo to compete in the SSDT, finished in 222nd and 246th respectively.

PIC:

James Dabill rides up the finish ramp as 2019 SSDT winner. NO F20 SSDT James Dabill 01. Photo: Trials Central.

James Dabill in action on Friday, day five, of the Scottish Six Days Trial. NO F20 SSDT James Dabill 04. Photo: Trials Central.

Dougie Lampkin’s run of seven successive SSDT wins came to an end this year. NO F20 SSDT Dougie Lampkin 02. Photo: Trials Central.