ALL is set for a fitting and dramatic close to the centenary edition of the Scottish Six Days Trial (SSDT) with James Dabill – Beta and Alexz Wigg – Sherco looking the two most likely candidates to lift the famous piece of silverware later this evening.
Only four marks splits these two young British riders after five intense days of competition that has covered nearly 450 miles and included 150 rocky sections.
Whilst both riders are tender in years, they share the fact that they have both been winners of this event in the past and have experienced the pressure associated with a final day showdown.
Although Dabill is the more experienced of the two potential victors and is four years older than his rival, Wigg has the fresher memory of tasting success in the Scottish Highlands after having triumphed in Fort William just 12 months ago.
That said, the current form book shows reigning British Trials Champion James Dabill with three wins to his name during the 2011 domestic campaign, whilst Wigg’s form on home turf has not been the best this year.
However, the Scottish Six Days Trial has a history of throwing up the odd surprise, so both riders will know that they will need to be at the top of their game today if they are to enjoy the victor’s champagne.
As Dabill looks to repeat his 2007 victory, he had this to say about the task that lies ahead of him: “For me, it’s just a case of keeping going the same way I have been doing all week, so far it has worked OK, so there is no reason to change anything at this late stage.
“Obviously being early on the final day is not ideal, but I am going to keep an open mind and keep fighting right to the finish.
“In Scotland, anything can happen, so you just have to keep plugging away and hope luck is on your side. Now is the time to dig deep and blank out as much as possible.
“When I won the SSDT in 2007, I rode with the yellow leader board for all six days and know what it is like to ride with pressure, so I am not really that concerned about it going into the final day. I am going to treat it just like another trial and let’s see what happens.”
Wigg was equally upbeat about his chances of making it two SSDT wins in a row and stated.
He said: “I am happy with my riding this week, apart from the odd slack mark, things have been going to plan after a bit of a slow start. I am aware that one five can change everything, so Michael (Brown) and Graham (Jarvis) are still very much in contention, so I don’t believe that it is just between me and James.
“I am confident with my riding and showed last year on the last day that I can cope well under pressure.
“At least this time I know what to expect, so hopefully I can hold it together again and get a positive result.
“James is the man under the real pressure as the trial is his to lose, especially with him being really early and having me riding behind him. It should be a good battle and one I am looking forward too.”
With the talking over, in just a few hours from now the winner of the centenary edition of the Scottish Six Days Trial will be declared and the celebrations will begin, as the count down to the next hundred years gets underway.
Marking its centenary, the 2011 Scottish Six Days Trial will take place throughout Lochaber, in the north-west Highlands, between Monday 2nd and Saturday 7th May – for more details please visit www.ssdt.org.
Ends
Media contact:
Paddy Cuthbert – Podge Publicity – M: 07968 699636 / E: Paddy@podge.co.uk
SSDT image service
High-resolution images and results from each day of the event can be found on our ftp server – details as listed below – these will be uploaded on a daily basis.
Server: ftp.g2fmedia.com
User: anonymous
Password: (not required)
Folder: SSDT
Notes to editors:
Funders, sponsors and supporters
Event Scotland – www.eventscotland.org
Highland Council – www.highland.gov.uk
Putoline Oil – www.putoline.com
Lift Control – www.liftcontrol.co.uk
Birkett MotoSport Ltd – www.birkettmotosportukltd.co.uk
John Lee Motorcycles – www.lee-motorcycles.co.uk
Off Road Moto – www.offroadmoto.co.uk
Thistle Access – www.thistleaccess.co.uk
Highland Leisure Sport – www.highlandleisuresport.co.uk
Talon Engineering – www.talon-eng.co.uk
Oximoto – www.oximoto.com
Motorcycle trials
The sport of motorcycle trials is a test of riding skill over observed sections where the winner is determined by skill alone. When competitors ride each of the 30 testing sections every day their feet must remain on the footrests of the bike. They must negotiate steep gullies, slippery rock steps, rocky streams and boulder-strewn gorges. Sections vary in length and severity, and riders are penalised if they put their feet down to help them ride the section, and more so if they fail to negotiate the section in its entirety.
The Scottish Six Days Trial has the additional test of reliability over long distances, with riders completing up to 100 miles each day over a combination of rough moorland, rocky tracks and public roads; designed to challenge the ability, experience, strength and stamina of each rider and the reliability of the bike. There is also a set time within which each day’s route must be completed.
100 YEARS OF THE SCOTTISH SIX DAYS TRIAL
The event actually originated as a five-day reliability trial back in July 1909, before being extended to a six-day competition a year later. However, the start of the Scottish Six Days Trial (SSDT) proper as organised by the then newly-formed Edinburgh and District Motor Club began in 1911.
In those early years, the trial started and finished in Edinburgh with the route taking the riders to John O’Groats and back over the course of the week.
Fort William was introduced as the hub for the event in 1938, although the start and finish remained in Edinburgh, which continued to be the case until all links with the Scottish city were cut in 1977.
Today, the SSDT consists of six different daily routes that total approximately 500 miles, which begin and end in Fort William each day.
The Edinburgh and District Motor Club will once again be at the helm of this fantastic competition and will be responsible for upholding an event where club riders and the world’s best compete together over the same course that will include 30 boulder-strewn sections on each of the six days.
For more information on The Scottish Six Days Trial go to: http://www.g2fgroup.com/html/ssdt/docs/SSDT100.pdf
Previous winners of the Scottish Six Days – 1972-2010
2010 – Alexz Wigg – Beta 2009 – Dougie Lampkin – Beta 2008 – Dougie Lampkin – Beta 2007 – James Dabill – Montesa 2006 – Graham Jarvis – Sherco 2005 – Sam Connor – Sherco 2004 – Graham Jarvis – Sherco 2003 – Joan Pons – Sherco 2002 – Amos Bilbao- Montesa 2001- Cancelled – Foot + Mouth 2000 – Steve Colley – Gas Gas 1999 – Graham Jarvis – Bultaco 1998 – Graham Jarvis – Scorpa 1997 – Steve Colley – Gas Gas 1996 – Dougie Lampkin – Beta 1995 – Dougie Lampkin – Beta 1994 – Dougie Lampkin – Beta 1993 – Steve Colley – Beta 1992 – Steve Colley – Beta 1991 – Steve Saunders – Beta 1990 – Steve Saunders – Beta 1989 – Steve Saunders – Fantic 1988 – Steve Saunders – Fantic 1987 – Jordi Tarres – Beta 1986 – Thierry Michaud – Fantic 1985 – Thierry Michaud – Fantic 1984 – Thierry Michaud – Fantic 1983 – Toni Gorgot – Montesa 1982 – Bernie Schreiber – SWM 1981 – Gilles Burgat – SWM 1980 – Yrjo Vesterinen – Montesa 1979 – Malcolm Rathmell – Montesa 1978 – Martin Lampkin – Bultaco 1977 – Martin Lampkin – Bultac 1976 – Martin Lampkin – Bultac 1975 – Mick Andrews – Yamaha 1974 – Mick Andrews – Yamah 1973 – Malcolm Rathmell – Bultac 1972 – Mick Andrews – Ossa.
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Contact: Paddy Cuthbert
Phone: 07968699636
Email: paddy@podge.co.uk
Website: http://www.ssdt.org
