IT’S RED AGAIN
The very closely guarded secret that James Dabill was moving from Vertigo to fellow Spanish motorcycle manufacturer Gas Gas for 2017 came as a shock to many of his World trials fans. He had secured his best ever World Championship results, another UK national title and the Scott Trial victory at the end of the season in 2016, so why the move? Since the start of his WTC career Dabill has ridden Beta, Montesa, Gas Gas, Beta and Vertigo, and for 2017 it’s red again! Trial Magazine managed to catch up with the ‘Dibsta’ in between his hectic riding training schedule as he prepared for his 2017 assault on the trials world.
So you are back with Gas Gas as the official number one rider for 2017.
Yes, it’s been a while since I was last on a Gas Gas, six years in fact, but I can honestly say that I am super excited about the position I am in, and very happy to be coming back to such a great brand and team of people both in Spain and the UK. Even more so to be coming back as the ‘Factory’ number one rider, which makes it even more special. I am also very excited to be working with yet another World Trials Champion, Marc Colomer, who will be my team manager and I am already confident that we will enjoy our time working together. It was never going to be an easy decision to leave Vertigo, because I really do see them as my extended family and throughout my career I have worked alongside many of the Lampkins, but it was extra special to work with my childhood hero Dougie. For the opportunity that Vertigo gave to me I have to say thanks to Manel Jane and everyone involved in the project. It was a great two years that I really enjoyed, and I will never forget the very special moments we shared together, for which I am forever grateful.
Are you looking forward to riding in the Spanish Championship?
I am very excited to be riding the Spanish Championship. It is yet again a new challenge for me and it comes with a new motivation. The BTC has gone a bit stale in recent years and doesn’t seem to be moving forward. Don’t get me wrong I have enjoyed some great battles over the years with my buddy Michael Brown, but I felt it was the right time for me to make a change and try something new. I think to ride with the best riders in the world week in week out can only be beneficial. I rode the Italian Championship back in 2007/2008 and if the Spanish is half as good as that then I am confident I will enjoy it.
Will you live in Spain or commute?
I will be commuting back and forth to Spain for the Spanish rounds rather than living there. As you know I have a young family now and to me the family is not an important thing, it’s everything, my world. I believe that to move us out to Spain at this time in our lives would be very selfish of me. I love seeing the kids grow each day and love being in the company of my wife Emma but what makes it more special is when I have been away for the weekend and come back to see them all. I think it’s going to be easier to fly there and back and I am confident it will work. You never know, there might be the odd family trip out as well.
How confident are you that you can take the Gas Gas into the top five in the World Championship?
I already have a good feeling on the new red machine after only a few weeks and I have a lot of confidence in the team around me. I truly believe with all the guys in the factory and back home in the UK, especially Shirty Jnr who is not only a boss but a very close friend, that the top five in the world is a realistic goal. I know that I am capable, and when you have a team of people and a machine like the Gas Gas anything is possible
Will we still see you at the Scottish Six Days Trial and the Scott?
This one is a no brainer for me really as every year I consider these two events the biggest in the trials calendar, both personally and for Gas Gas. The SSDT is a very special event and if I am honest I only go there to win, so you can imagine why I am disappointed if I don’t. At the same time I love the whole week, being able to ride round and have fun with friends. I would love to win up there again and come May I will definitely be trying 100% as always. As for the Scott, well I honestly believe it’s slightly perverse what we do to ourselves up there because of the pain we go through, and yet we still go back year in year out. It’s a great event and mega fun and I will be there again October 2017.
Who are next top riders from Great Britain?
Me of course — haha! Joking aside, it’s always hard to say who is going to be the next big thing until we see how they go when they have to throw on their big-boy pants and play with the top guys. But if I was going to say a few off the top of my head I would say Jack Price could definitely go far and possibly the Peace brothers, along with the likes of Toby Martyn, but they a re all still very young and have a lot to learn. You never stop learning in trials. All I can say is keep pushing boys, I am waiting!
Can you win a World round?
It’s always a tricky question to answer because you never know what is going to happen, and if I could predict the future I would be laid on a beach somewhere counting my millions! What I can say is the way I rode on the Saturday at the 2016 UK World round I believe that on any other day in 2016 I would have won. You could say I was a little unfortunate that Toni was exceptional that day; he definitely proved why he is a 20 times World Champion. But at the end of the day he is only human like the rest of us, and after that day I know on the right day I can be on top so, yes, I believe I can win.