‘VIVA’ AMOS

The Scottish Six Days Trial bounced back in 2002 in Fort William as the trial returned to the calendar after the cancellation in 2001 due to the nationwide Foot and Mouth disease that had put a stop to all off-road activity. As 252 riders entered, they had a new secretary of the meeting with Scotsman John Moffat in charge. With no four-stroke machines in the entry, the Spanish manufacturers dominated it led by Gas Gas with 69, Sherco 67 and Montesa 53. In contrast to the usual wet weather that falls during the event, a welcome band of warm sunshine came over the highlands, making it hotter than Spain!

Off the back of a hugely successful riding career, Spain’s Amos Bilbao had the ‘Scottish’ win on his bucket list. In 2000 he had finished second and was denied the chance to look for the victory in 2001. He arrived armed with the Montesa Cota 315, and only one result was on his mind, winning. He made his intentions quite clear on day one as he parted no marks under a red-hot sky. On day two, with four marks lost, he was pushed down to third behind Dan Clarke and Steve Colley. As both Colley and Bilbao lost a single mark, the fight for the win was still wide open on Wednesday.

On the long 120-mile day four, Amos joined four other riders who all went clean as Colley stopped at Ba House. Using his years of experience and riding in the company of Wayne Braybrook, Amos only parted with one more mark on Friday to put him on a total of six. As Colley lost another single five-mark penalty, Amos lost just one to secure the victory on the final day.

2002 SCOTTISH SIX DAYS TRIAL

RESULTS: 1: Amos Bilbao (Montesa-ESP) 7; 2: Steve Colley (Gas Gas) 15; 3: Ben Hemingway (Beta) 17; 4: Andy Huddleston (Montesa) 24; 5: Steve Saunders (Gas Gas) 24; 6: Sam Connor (Gas Gas)

25; 7: Adam Norris (Beta) 35; 8: Gary Macdonald (Sherco) 35; 9: John Shirt (Gas Gas) 38; 10: Dan Clarke (Scorpa) 45; 11: James Lampkin (Beta) 45; 12: Jordi Pasquet (Gas Gas-ESP) 45; 13: Jeroni Fajardo (Gas Gas-ESP) 46; 14: Wayne Braybrook (Montesa) 48; 15: Dan Hemingway (Beta) 51; 16: Dan Thorpe (Gas Gas) 59; 17: John Lampkin (Beta) 63; 18: Andreu Codina (Sherco-ESP) 64; 19: Barry Kinley (Gas Gas) 65; 20: Joe Baker (Sherco) 68.