End of an Era
1989 SSDT
Putting in a strong, mature ride over the six days would give Great Britain’s undisputed number-one rider Steve Saunders a second successive Scottish Six Days Trial victory. The expected challenge from Spain’s new trials ‘Hotshot’ Jordi Tarres ended in a disaster. His new prototype liquid-cooled aluminium-framed Beta seized up at the close of the opening day, forcing him to retire. This would leave the door open for the Beta UK importer John Lampkin to take his air-cooled Beta into the runner-up spot as he held French rider Philippe Berlatier at bay, who was also Beta mounted. The retirement of Tarres and the Beta was not in vain though, as much had been learned by the Italian manufacturer in the ongoing development of water-cooled trials machines in the harshest of conditions. Steve Saunders’ win on the Fantic would be the last by an air-cooled machine, and the last for the Italian manufacturer. By the end of the year ‘Water-Cooled’ would be king as Jordi Tarres celebrated the first world title for the new generation of liquid-cooled machines.
Monday: 29 sections, 111 miles
‘Chaos’ was the word that was being thrown about after a challenging opening day for both the riders and the organisers. It all started early on when the marshals arrived late at the opening group of hazards at Callart Falls. Riders had to wait for them to arrive and from then on the day turned into a race against time.
As the torrential rain came down, the water levels rose, and the organisers had to reroute the riders away from the swollen rivers. It meant a detour over the sodden moors and then, one by one, the riders ran out of fuel and had to push their machines. Many riders were angry as the club eventually decided to scrap the time limit. It came about on Wednesday after many protests from the riders. If the time limit had been kept, close on 100 riders would have been excluded. As the results stood, Steve Saunders was the trials leader but in second position was the talented Irish rider Robert Crawford on his first appearance in this legendary Highland event. Monday leaders: 1: Steve Saunders (Fantic) 20; 2: Robert Crawford (Beta) 25; 3: Gerald Richardson (Yamaha) 30; 4: Jordi Tarres (Beta-ESP) 31 – Excluded out of time; 5: John Lampkin (Beta) 38; 6: Duncan Walmsley (Yamaha) 39; 7: Mark Holland (Yamaha) 42; 8: Nigel Birkett (JCM) 42; 9: Glen Scholey (Beta) 43; 10: Steven Hole (Beta) 43.
Tuesday: 30 sections, 80 miles
A total opposite to the chaotic Monday, Tuesday opened its account with some sunshine for the riders and a much less stressful day as the time limit was much more relaxed. The main spectator group of the day was at ‘Meal Nam Each’, which managed to extract a five-mark penalty from both the leader, Steve Saunders, and the joint best rider of the day, John Lampkin. The other rider on fire, with some excellent riding was the French rider, Philippe Berlatier. The ‘Bear’, as he is known, had a very tough opening day with many problems, at one point was 90 minutes behind on time, and recorded a loss of 58 marks for the day. Keeping his composure on day two he parted with 11 marks, the same as Lampkin, which pulled him right back up the leader board.
Saunders had ridden consistently all day on the Fantic, parting with just 13 marks, to maintain a clear lead over second-placed Gerald Richardson. Tuesday evening would see a final decision from the club over Monday’s time limit. Tuesday leaders: 1: Steve Saunders (Fantic) 33; 2: Gerald Richardson (Yamaha) 49; 3: John Lampkin (Beta) 49; 4: Robert Crawford (Beta) 50; 5: Duncan Walmsley (Yamaha) 62; 6: Matthew Robinson (Beta) 64; 7: Philip Alderson (Yamaha) 66; 8: Glen Scholey (Beta) 67; 9: Philippe Berlatier (Beta-FRA) 69; 10: Steven Hole (Beta) 69.
Wednesday: 30 sections, 114 miles
With the decision made to scrap Monday’s time limit now official, some riders lost out, and some did not. It was a simple as that.
The sunshine was out once again, and the man in the spotlight was Philippe Berlatier, parting with a mere four marks all day in single ‘dabs’. Hot on his heels was Robert Crawford on nine, followed by Scott Cameron having his moment of glory on 11 and John Shirt Jnr on 14 marks lost.
Steve Saunders was a very relieved rider as he signed off for the day having parted with 16 marks on his early-start day.
For the organising club, however, the Monday problems were still haunting them. In the evening many riders wanted to protest about the scrapping of the time limit on the Monday, but the club had made their decision and stood by it. It left a sour taste in the mouths of the many riders who had ridden the hazards ‘blind’ to save time penalties. Despite all this Saunders still held a good ten-mark advantage over the young challenger Crawford. Wednesday leaders: 1: Steve Saunders (Fantic) 49; 2: Robert Crawford (Beta) 59; 3: Gerald Richardson (Yamaha) 67; 4: Philippe Berlatier (Beta-FRA) 73; 5: John Lampkin (Beta) 73; 6: Philip Alderson (Yamaha) 75; 7: John Shirt (Gas Gas) 89; 8: Glen Scholey (Beta) 89; 9: Steven Hole (Beta) 91; 10: Duncan Walmsley (Yamaha) 92.
Thursday: 30 sections, 120 miles
Day four was when Steve Saunders ‘put the hammer down’ on the Fantic and made his intentions of another victory very clear as he opened a lead at the close of play. With the daily rotation of the riding numbers, he was now at the very back of the entry.
At the opposite end of the entry, riding at the front, John Lampkin knew he would have to be at his very best if he was to maintain his challenge for his first ever SSDT win. Looking very confident all day his final score of 18 was damage limitation and still kept him within reach of the top three positions.
Saunders was locked in a duel all day with Philip Alderson on the Yamaha. Both were very evenly matched, but it was Saunders who had the upper hand by a single mark.
On a very competitive day, Alderson’s riding had lifted him into second above fellow Yamaha rider Gerald Richardson. In close company for the runner-up position was Philippe Berlatier, with Lampkin in fifth in front of Crawford. Thursday leaders: 1: Steve Saunders (Fantic) 58; 2: Philip Alderson (Yamaha) 83; 3: Gerald Richardson (Yamaha) 85; 4: Philippe Berlatier (Beta-FRA) 88; 5: John Lampkin (Beta) 91; 6: Robert Crawford (Beta) 92; 7: Duncan Walmsley (Yamaha) 111; 8: Harold Crawford (Yamaha) 119; 9: Steven Hole (Beta) 121; 10: John Shirt (Gas Gas) 124.
Friday: 30 sections, 95 miles
Who could argue that with the sun out in all its glory the route around the Moidart Peninsula is one of the best day’s trials riding you can ever have anywhere in the world?
Over the years, Steve Saunders and John Lampkin had spent many competitive days travelling and riding together, and day five of the SSDT would be no different. Lampkin was just over 30 riding numbers behind Saunders and at the back of the entry. The two different riding techniques were a pleasure to watch: Saunders on the Fantic with the lightning reactions needed to suit his ‘quick’ riding style, and Lampkin on the Beta the total opposite riding more steadily and delicate. Both would part with five marks, all lost in single marks throughout the day.
The next best was Glen Scholey, having a superb day losing eight followed by Philippe Berlatier on nine. Keeping his eye on that runner-up position Gerald Richardson remained calm and parted with ten marks lost. At the end of the warm, dry day, Saunders had stretched his lead even further. Friday leaders: 1: Steve Saunders (Fantic) 60; 2: Gerald Richardson (Yamaha) 95; 3: John Lampkin (Beta) 96; 4: Philippe Berlatier (Beta-FRA) 97; 5: Philip Alderson (Yamaha) 100; 6: Robert Crawford (Beta) 114; 7: Glen Scholey (Beta) 132; 8: Harold Crawford (Yamaha) 135; 9: Duncan Walmsley (Yamaha) 139; 10: John Shirt (Gas Gas) 142.
Saturday: 30 sections, 77 miles
Knowing that barring a disaster his good friend, Steve Saunders, would take his second SSDT win; John Lampkin had just one thing on his mind: to be the best Beta rider in the final results. Played out in Mediterranean-like sunshine, it was not Lampkin but another Beta rider who would be the star performer on the final day.
Yorkshire café owne, Glen Scholey, rode out of his skin to lose just a measly three marks compared to Lampkin’s six and, in doing so, secured seventh overall in the event, much to his delight. Lampkin achieved what he had set out to do and finished second and the best of the Beta riders, the majority of whom he sponsored!
Third was a just reward for Philippe Berlatier after his massive loss of marks on the opening day and Philip Alderson was the best of the Yamaha riders. The biggest loser on the final day was Gerald Richardson as a massive loss of 31 marks dropped him down from second to fifth. The 1989 event had been challenging for both the riders and the organisers with the problems on the opening day, as the door closed on the event with just 207 finishers from the 275 starters. 1989 Scottish Six Days Trial Results: 1: Steve Saunders (Fantic) 70; 2: John Lampkin (Beta) 102; 3: Philippe Berlatier (Beta-FRA) 110; 4: Philip Alderson (Yamaha) 114; 5: Gerald Richardson (Yamaha) 126; 6: Robert Crawford (Beta) 128; 7: Glen Scholey (Beta) 135; 8: Harold Crawford (Yamaha) 150; 9: Stephen Hole (Beta) 152; 10: John Shirt Jnr (Gas Gas) 153; 11: Mark Jackson (Beta) 158; 12: Wayne Braybrook (Beta) 163; 13: Nigel Birkett (JCM) 171; 14: Tony Scarlett (Gas Gas) 173; 15: Duncan Walmsley (Yamaha) 182.