Ross Danby
It’s always quite interesting how you can end up noticing trials riders, as with some you can come to identify them with their riding style and maybe a personalised paint job on a crash helmet. For Ross Dandy I noticed him for the fact that he always presented as very professional, with an immaculate machine, way back around 2004. His riding style was always very clean and he would soon become a rider who I would take notice of at trials. He comes from a motorcycling back ground and has the privilege of being one of only a handful of riders who have beaten James Dabill in the British Trials Championship over the last ten years or so. Still a strong contender for the win, we took the opportunity to find out more about the man they nicknamed ‘Rossi’ in the trials world.
Why motorcycle trials?
I guess motorcycles have been in my blood from an early age, starting off with going and watching my dad do scrambling and being on my pushbike at meetings and around the paddocks pretending I was racing myself. I always thought I would end up in scrambling like my dad, as I loved to watch him and couldn’t wait to get on a proper motorcycle.
My first time on one would have been when I was only four-years-old, which was a Yamaha PW50. When growing up there wasn’t really any other sport that interested me, all I wanted to do was get on my motorcycle. As well as the scrambling, I also used to go and watch dad compete at local trials; this is where my love of the sport began and I was bought my first trials machine for Christmas when I was aged nine.
Along with a million other riders — was your first real trials motorcycle a Yamaha TY80?
No. My first trials machine was an air-cooled Beta 50, nothing like the ones you get today. I started off just riding at home on my Beta, where I was lucky enough to have a big orchard to ride and learn in. My first trials competition that my mum and dad took me to was at one of the local trials run by Stourbridge MCC; much to my surprise I went and won my class, beating all the Junior and Senior riders.
After this I caught the bug, and mum and dad’s quiet weekends soon got filled with travelling around to compete at all the local trials. We had many ups and downs, and plenty of tears, but with hard work and practice the results started to pick up.
At what point did you decide to start competing in the British Youth Championship?
My results were picking up from plenty of practice and time spent riding. I enjoyed going and competing at the Heart of England Trials Club; this is where I met other centre youth riders which really started to push me. This is also when mum and dad made the decision for me to move onto a 125cc as I had outgrown my Beta 50cc and I needed more power.
My first was an ex Ben Sprigg Gas Gas 125cc, which brought me on in leaps and bounds bringing me more wins and great results. During the usual chat between parents it was mentioned to mum and dad that they should look at me going to compete at the British youth championship as this would bring me on and meant I would be competing against the best youth riders in the country.
Who was the main opposition?
Through the youth years — and still today my main opposition but also good friends — were Sam Haslam and Alexz Wigg. We battled on many weekends, from the early days to the British Championships, where the top three positions were normally fought hard for by the three of us. My most memorable youth result was winning every round of the Youth A Class 125cc British Championship.
At what point did you attract sponsorship?
My sponsorship started to come once I was getting some good results and going to the right events to be seen at. I also think what helped me out attracting some good secure sponsors was that I have all ways been turned out to high standard. My machine and clothing looking fresh, this also helps with your riding, knowing that your motorcycle is on ‘tip-top’ form and reliable. I have learnt this from my dad as when I was climbing the ladder he was always on about it and like himself his machines were always mint. I think I’ve got a very good feel for things and check for wear and tear before it’s broken. This has played a big part throughout my trials carer to date.
Following on from your success in Youth trials you made the brave move into the FIM World Trials Championship in 2005 at Hawkstone Park on home soil, finishing on the second step of the podium.
I decided to have a go at the 125cc class at Hawkstone after I had been doing a few European Championship rounds. Also this was a good opportunity to have a go in a World Championship trial as it was very local to me and on home soil. I went to this event with no pressure on me and not knowing what I was going to be faced with. Once the trial had started I soon settled in. After a few good rides the crowd was supporting me and cheering me on. It was mental as I hadn’t experienced this before! As in my youth days I never really looked at the scores until the end so that I could always concentrate. My dad, mum and minder at the time David Brown knew I was doing very well and kept me pushing hard and I kept on riding well. When I was nearly finished with a few sections to go I knew I was somewhere in the running as again the crowd were saying “keep it up, you’re up there with them…” I was made up with my 2nd place overall and at my first ever go at world level. It gave me the bug and I wanted to do more, and this is where my World trials campaign started. Going back to sponsorship, after this excellent result I gained a website and support from Ian Beardsall and others, which went on to help throughout my world tours.
Who was your first minder?
My first minder was my dad. He taught me as much as he could and helped everywhere, but when my level of riding went up he knew we needed to find a minder. A lot still leads on from sponsorship as Marcus Shirley was supporting me and helping a lot at the time. He was taking me out practising loads and we soon gelled together and worked very well with each other. Finding a minder is hard as you have to have total trust in them, and they need to know what jobs they have to do. It comes down to team work, and me and Marcus were a good team and still are good friends.
In 2006, you did a full season in the FIM Youth Championship, finishing sixth.
This was a massive learning year for me; doing a full season and finishing sixth topped off a great year for me. Every round was exciting as I hadn’t travelled to many countries before, especially getting to travel to Japan and America. I had many ups and downs and made some great friends along the way. My mum and dad knew it was going to cost a fair whack of money doing the whole season, but with the help of the sponsors that I had picked up already along the way this year was a massive achievement for me.
You took a very memorable runner-up spot in the 2007 FIM Youth Championship behind Spain’s Afredo Gomez.
Yes this was such a good year, and one I will always remember. It was mega tough though. I was putting even more time on the machine and getting my fitness better, along with doing a few hours of work to help towards my funds. Gomez always had the upper hand on me as he was part on the massive Spanish Federation Team, which was at every round with a massive truck and with plenty of support. They were training every day with their minders and money was no object. I was supported by my parents massively, who were working harder than ever, and I was lucky to have two sponsors for my flights for Japan and America: Paul Bennet of Severn Bore Piling and Robin North of Soilmec. I still can’t get my head around where the ACU truck was and funding towards a rider that could have won the title. Maybe with more support from them I could have won the championship. How many other riders have asked this same question?
How big was the change into the Junior class in 2008?
It was a big change after being on a 125cc for a long time to step up to a machine with power. I moved onto a 250cc so I wasn’t being ‘bullied’ about by the 300cc power as this was another learning year. The sections were bigger and more technical along with a higher standard of rider. With doing a full season I ended with a 6th place overall, which I was very happy with.
When you dropped to 8th in 2009 was it time to hang up the boots in the WTC?
This was the hardest year for me as halfway through I lost some sponsors which, with the climate at the time with the recession starting to kick in, was understandable. I wasn’t able to get out practising enough to keep at the level with the other riders with my results starting to drop. I had to really think hard and look at what the future was going to be, for me to become world champion. To ever achieve this I was going to need more money and a full time minder, and to be able to ride every day. I made a big decision, which was hard after living my dream, which was to look for a job and continue to ride trials at British Championship level.
As a regular finisher in the top five of the British Championship you took your only round win in 2012, when the rules moved to No-Stop.
2012 was a very different year as I made the big decision to move from Gas Gas to Jotagas with Steve Saunders. I had been with Gas Gas for a long time and rode for John Shirt for nine years. He helped so much as well as taking some minding duties in as well, for which I can never thank him enough. Riding the Jotagas under the new no-stop rule was different but I soon got to grips with it and I had some good finishes early on in the season. The nostop rule was suiting me as it was more flowing and with fewer big steps, as I wasn’t riding as much due to work.
What do you remember of your win at the West of England BTC round in 2012?
Well; standing on top of the podium knowing I was the best rider in Great Britain, ha-ha! Thinking back to the day now it was a strange day, as again I was unaware of how I was doing. I can remember just riding very steady and taking my time with the sections as they were very slippery that day. With help from Steve and support from my mum and Carla, who is now my fiancée, throughout the day they kept me calm and relaxed as they knew I was in with a chance. When I rode back to the finish I was the last rider back and this is when I realised I had won, when I saw the scores and ‘Dibs’ and ‘Browny’ where there to shake my hand and congratulate me. It took a few days to sink in though! With the switch to Jotagas and that I was doing well. It gave me some new confidence and a new ‘buzz’ in the trials scene, and brought me into third overall in the championship and my best ever position.
Despite the well documented problems with the Jotagas project you stayed with Steve Saunders, the importer.
Yes there were some problems with the Jotagas project, which was new; as with all new machines you have teething problems. I loved riding mine and it only let me down once. Over the years riding for Steve we have built up a good relationship and we both trust each other. I would say we are good friends. With the ups and downs with the Jotagas we both stuck in there until the end. When Steve told me about the new TRS machine coming soon I knew it was going to be good and that I was going to be involved with the new project. Steve arranged with Jordi Tarres, the brains behind TRS, for me to go out and do some testing in Spain. I stayed with Jordi for four days to see what was going into producing this new motorcycle brand, which was interesting. This was an experience I will never forget. When it arrived in the UK I knew I had made the correct decision.
What does the future hold for Ross Danby?
I still enjoy my riding and being out on my TRS, which I just love riding more and more and I feel at home with it. I will be doing the British Championship, SSDT and the Scott as I enjoy them year in, year out, and the road-based nationals. At the moment I’m currently self employed and working alongside a sheet metal company, doing welding and fabricating and fitting out on site. Another thing I’m looking forward to this year is that Carla and I are getting married in July. She is brilliant and so supportive with my trials riding. So as my life goes on, I still love the trials scene which started many years ago. Before we finish I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has supported me over the years — Thank you.