GAS GAS GAS, IT’S A BLAST
Along with the cancellation of the 2020 Scottish Six Days Trial in May, the news that the Scott Trial in October would also not run was a tough decision for the organisers to make. Respecting the government guidelines regarding the Covid 19 situation put the respective clubs in challenging situations. They had to look at preserving the future of these two legendary motorcycle events which both carry a sporting heritage of over 100 years, and long may this continue. In the early days of the magazine, and whilst still getting to grips with a Nikon D700 SLR camera as opposed to the Renthal handlebars and grips of a trials machine, I took hundreds of pictures as I honed my picture-taking technique. In the archive, we have thousands of photos that will never be used, or maybe even seen by the public, so here in this article we ‘Flashback’ to the 2010 Scott Trial.
Riding on a high in 2010 was Yorkshire’s James Dabill. Spanish manufacturer Gas Gas had not won the ACU British Trials Championship since 2004 with Steve’ Showtime’ Colley until Dabill won in 2009 and again in 2010. At the Scottish Six Days Trial Dabill, by his own admission, was disappointed with his sixth place after time penalties had spoiled his week. In the FIM World Trials Championship, he had taken over from Dougie Lampkin (Beta) as Great Britain’s highest-placed finisher in sixth position. A first Scott Trial win would be the icing on the cake both for Dabill and Gas Gas.
INTERESTING
It’s always good to look at the past to secure a future, and I find it happens so much in the world of motorcycle trials. In 2010 it was interesting to look back who had won the event starting with Wayne Braybrook (Montesa) in 2000. 2001 was the year of the Foot and Mouth outbreak, with no event run, before Michael
Phillipson (Beta) rocked the establishment with his win in 2002.
In 2003, the Scott’ Legend,’ Graham Jarvis, started adding to his previous four wins from 1996 on a Scorpa to 1999 on the Bultaco/Sherco and dominated the event until 2005.
At the back end of a fantastic FIM World Trials Championship career Dougie Lampkin (Montesa) returned to the event in 2006 and registered the first four-stroke victory since 1966, when his uncle Alan ‘Sid’ Lampkin had won on the BSA. Dougie won again in 2007 before Graham Jarvis (Sherco) rattled off two more wins in 2008 and 2009.
The fight for the 2010 victory would be as close as ever as once again the event, as we have seen in the past, would witness some drama that would affect the end result.
As 200 riders rolled up to the start field at Marske to do battle with the event the aim was to finish in once piece, such is the reputation of this time and observation trial. For the top riders, the opportunity to put their hands on the much sought-after Alfred A. Scott memorial trophy was up for grabs.
MAN AND MACHINE
You can argue that the rugged North Yorkshire moors, high above the market town of Richmond where the Scott Trial is run, still offers the ultimate test of man and machine as the toughest one-day trial in the world. Heavy rain and high winds in the night had fortunately relented on the cold morning of the event, and it was just a light drizzle that welcomed the riders at the start area.
For the majority of the entry, the trial is all about getting to the finish – or as far they can get around the course. A Scott Spoon is awarded to the top 26 riders, but for many, a finish in the allocated time allowance would be most welcome and is rewarded with the certificate to prove they have finished ‘The Scott’.
The event is unique in the fact that it’s a fine balance, between riding well in the 70-odd sections to have a good observation score and also keeping on the pace to finish in time, and this is what makes it so special.
The majority of the top contenders are certainly physically fit enough and well equipped to cope with the hammering riders and machines get riding on the open moor, but it is also the mental aspect which comes into the winning equation. The event is run under the ‘No-Stop’ rules, which have proved favourable for this type of event where the hazards are more open and flowing.
HERE WE GO
Dabill looked fit and confident; does he push to the front and take the chance on the sections that are still virgin and never been ridden? Or, maybe sit just off the pace at the front to aim for that all-important observation score? I am sure these were the thoughts going through his mind.
Graham Jarvis had been the master of this
fine balance on nine occasions; Dougie Lampkin winning three. All eyes in the trials world were on this event.
In 2009, Dabill had come very close to winning, posting the fastest time but in the process losing too many marks in the sections, which had him missing the win by just two marks as Jarvis made him put the champagne on ice for one more year.
As the light mist and drizzle wrapped itself around the start area, local rider, Chris Tennant, knew he was in for some punishment as he rode his Fantic twin-shock down the start ramp to a large round of applause.
It was a look of ‘here we go’ on the faces of the rest of the entry, which soon disappeared into the wilderness and the challenge that is simply known as The Scott.
RIVER DEEP, MOUNTAIN HIGH
Anyone who has ever ridden in the Scott will know that when you reach one of the early sections at the river crossing at Orgate Splash, how deep it is will indicate just how deep the rivers are going to be for the rest of the day. In 2010, with the overnight rain, the river level was quite high and, as usual, it gave a few of the early numbers a cold, refreshing bath as they tumbled into the fast-flowing water! The top riders take a quick look at the water level before plunging in a fight to be among the front runners.
The previous winner, Dougie Lampkin, picked up a rear-wheel puncture whilst riding across the river and he quickly stopped and carried out an immediate repair. Just a few minutes later it was game over. Being forced out of the event was a repeat of what happened two years earlier when he suffered an electrical failure on his Factory Beta.
Found at just over an hour from the start is Fremington Edge and the exposed
Reels Head hazards. Consisting of large limestone rocks, wheel grip soon becomes a premium as the mud is carried onto the rocks. Once the first rider has appeared, the others start to arrive in quick succession.
On a charge were the younger riders pushing hard, including Will Brockbank, Jack Sheppard, Joel Sadler and eventual winner of the Best Newcomers Award, Richard Sadler. Of the fancied winners, Michael Brown arrived first with 2002 winner, Michael Phillipson, on his tail. They were quickly followed by youngsters Jonathan Richardson with Alexz Wigg three minutes later. Jarvis then appeared on the scene a further two minutes behind, covered in mud as he had been charging early on in his quest to get to the front. On the other hand, Dabill looked very calm and collected. Ross Danby on his way to a best Scott finish of sixth was next up, followed by the Hemingway brothers and Craig Robinson. Good friend George Morton and ‘sometime’ trials rider Southerner Sam Connor, would eventually take a strong fifth place.
NO SURRENDER
The riders would soon be passing through such aptly named Scott sections as Shaw Gutter, Faggerghyll, Whaw Bridge, Black Hills, Tank Trap, Grand Canyon and Bye Pass, before arriving at the quite rightly named Surrender. It’s not a particularly difficult hazard, but you are well into the Scott Trial route and have just come off the famous, punishing 60-minute ride named Grouse Moor.
Michael Brown would arrive first, and he jumped across the deep river crossing at the bottom with Richardson a few seconds later pushing him. Dabill, 20 seconds later, still looked very calm following the other two riders for a perfectly executed clean ride. Jonny Walker was next, followed by Jarvis who was not far behind.
The ride from the last fuel stop is one of the hardest parts of the course to deal with. Both leading lady riders, Katy Sunter and Emma Bristow, were still on course to finish in time. The casualties were coming thick and fast, such as Alexz Wigg as his tyre punctured and came completely off the wheel-rim way out on the moors. First-timer, young Jack Sheppard, was out as he punched a hole in the crankcases, which allowed the all-important oil and water to escape. Leading front runner, Ian Austermuhle, would also disappear just ten sections from home.
At the finish area, the atmosphere was very tense, as Michael Brown appeared as the first rider back followed by Richardson. Dabill was greeted by sponsor John Shirt Jnr, who was hoping Dabill had done enough to give Gas Gas their first win. The other riders then started to appear, battered and bruised, but credit was due to all the finishers, having just finished the toughest one-day trials event in the world.
RESULTS: 1: James Dabill (JST-Gas Gas) 42; 2: Graham Jarvis (Sherco) 59; 3: Michael Brown (Sherco) 65; 4: Jonathan Richardson (Sherco) 73; 5: Sam Connor (Beta-UK) 90; 6: Ross Danby (JST-Gas Gas) 101; 7: Ben Hemingway (Beta-UK) 105: 8: Sam Haslam (JST-Gas Gas) 105; 9: George Morton (Beta-UK) 108; 10: Dan Thorpe (JST-Gas Gas) 124; 11: James Lampkin (Beta-UK) 127; 12: Craig Robinson (JST-Gas Gas) 133; 13: Dan Hemingway (Beta-UK) 140; 14: Michael Phillipson (Beta-UK) 141; 15: Richard Sadler (Sherco) 143; 16: Philip Alderson (Gas Gas) 145; 17: Guy Kendrew (AM-Gas Gas) 147; 18: Aran Drachenberg (Beta) 150; 19: John Sunter (Montesa) 154; 20: Jonny Walker (Gas Gas) 156; 21: Harold Crawford (Beta) 162; 22: Sam Ludgate (Gas Gas) 164; 23: Ben Morphett (Beta-UK) 166; 24: Chris Pearson (Sherco) 167; 25: Andy Chilton (Beta) 167; 26: Adam Milner (Acklam’ s-Beta) 171.
MACHINES: Beta 11; Gas Gas 9; Sherco 5; Montesa 1.
FASTEST TIME: Michael Brown (Sherco) 05:08:48.
BEST ON OBSERVATION: James Dabill (JST-Gas Gas) 39. BEST FIRST TIME RIDER: Richard Sadler (Sherco).
BEST OVER/40 RIDER: Paul Bennet (Sherco).
BEST LADY: Katy Sunter (JST-Gas Gas).
LAST OFFICIAL FINISHER: Mark Coulson (Gas Gas) 07:38:36. BEST TEAM: Sherco A.
FINISHERS: Two hundred started with 73 officially finishing within the allocated time.