LEGEND LAMPKIN
‘A sporting holiday in the Highlands’ is what continued to sell the Scottish Six Days Trial to so many trials riders. The town of Fort William continues to enjoy the event along with the finances it brings with it and, of course, the public who come to enjoy the week. It was no different in 2012. Nevis Radio, supported by Michelin and Trial Magazine and run by David Ogg and John Moffat, once again had a tremendous week, with listening figures to the popular station one continuing to be very high, so what was missing? On the lips of so many people was the question: “When are the manufacturers going to bring along their top riders?”
Dougie Lampkin has to be the ultimate SSDT legend. He first won the event in 1993 at the start of his trials adventure, followed up by wins in 1994 and 1995 before taking on the world to win seven consecutive FIM world outdoor crowns, not forgetting to mention five FIM indoor titles as well; a 12-times FIM world champion, I nearly forgot the 99 world round wins! After his world championship-winning days were over, he returned to win the challenging
Scott Trial in 2007 and took two more SSDT wins in 2008 and 2009. He retired from the world championship competition in 2012 to concentrate on his new role as the Gas Gas team manager. His first competition on a trials machine during 2012 would be the SSDT; he simply went out and won!
Staying focussed throughout the week despite the pressure from the young pack of riders after his scalp, he kept his calm to win and take the bar to another level as he set a new world record. Yes, it went all the way to the wire in a fight with James Dabill, but history only remembers the winners!
2012 SCOTTISH SIX DAYS TRIAL
RESULTS: 1: Dougie Lampkin (Gas Gas) 15;
2: James Dabill (Beta) 15; 3: Michael Brown (Gas Gas) 21; 4: Dan Thorpe (Gas Gas) 31; 5: Alexz Wigg (Gas Gas) 32; 6: Ian Austermuhle (Beta) 38; 7: Jordi Pascuet (JotagasESP) 38; 8: Sam Connor (Beta) 42; 9: Jack Challoner (Beta) 43; 10: Sam Haslam (Gas Gas) 50; 11: Chris Pearson (Sherco) 59; 12: Ben Hemingway (Beta) 59;
13: Tom Sagar (Montesa) 63; 14: Richard Sadler (Sherco) 66; 15: James Fry (Sherco) 72; 16: Ricky Wiggins (Gas Gas) 73; 17: Dan Clarke (Beta) 75; 18: Adam Norris (Beta) 79; 19: John Shirt (Gas Gas) 80; 20: Michael Burton (Beta) 85.