TWELVE-times FIM Trial World Champion Dougie Lampkin is focused on doing everything possible to take victory at the UK leg of the 2011 SPEA FIM Trial World Championship to be staged at Nevis Range, Fort William, on the 30 and 31 July.
With three weeks to go until 60 of the world’s greatest riders and their respective teams descend on the picturesque Scottish Highlands, Dougie will attempt to achieve his ultimate career goal of 100 GP victories.
After coming desperately close to claiming his 100th world round win at last year’s event, where he finished second on the first competition day, the undisputed king of trials is determined to realise his target and ride on to the top step of the podium once again.
His love of the Scottish terrain was revitalised recently when he took part in a promotional video for the UK World Trial alongside Japanese rider, Takahisa Fujinami.
Whilst enduring an action-packed day of activities the skilled duo entered into an intense mental battle, with neither of the two riders showing any remorse when it came to the competition.
Dougie and the factory Gas Gas team will have the hopes of a nation resting on their shoulders.
A quick glance at the unassuming Yorkshireman’s trophy cabinet tells the story of his long and illustrious career, in which he has been decorated at the highest level, receiving an MBE in 2001 for his services to the sport.
As well as taking twelve FIM World titles, Dougie has an unique longstanding association with the Scottish Highlands, having won the prestigious Scottish Six Days Trial (SSDT) no less than five times.
Unfortunately, his most recent attempt ended in disaster when he crashed out of the lead of the 100th anniversary edition during the fourth day of competition, sustaining substantial ligament damage to his left ankle.
Whilst still recovering from the injury Dougie has remained active, acting as mentor to Gas Gas team mate Adam Raga and competing in the Erzberg extreme enduro, where the plucky Brit finished second, recording his best ever result.
With his mind now totally focused on the UK leg of the world series and claiming his 100th GP victory, Lampkin is following a strict training regime in order to be fully fit in time for Scotland.
“Without doubt, Scotland is one of my favourite places to ride and I’m really looking forward to this year’s UK World Trial. Obviously, I was disappointed to miss out on my 100th win by such a small margin last year, but I’m even more determined to reach my goal this month.
“I originally damaged my ankle at the SSDT in May and I have been struggling with it ever since. Although it is still not fully fit I have just returned from Erzberg enduro in Austria where I finished second and the injury is certainly on the mend. In the next few weeks my main goal is to make sure I am in the best possible shape before arriving in Fort William.
“Having a noisy home crowd behind me is a massive confidence boost and is one of the things which makes this event so unique.
“Over the years, I have ridden in the Highlands several times; however, still it remains special to me, so I cannot wait to return for the UK World Trial,” concluded the Gas Gas factory rider.
Full travel and accommodation details plus the opportunity to buy discounted advance and VIP tickets for the UK leg of the 2011 SPEA FIM Trial World Championship can be found on the official event website http://www.ukworldtrial.com or by calling the event hotline 0845 643 6756.
Ends
Media contact:
Paddy Cuthbert, Podge Publicity – T: 07968 699636 / E: paddy@podge.co.uk
Notes to Editors:
Useful websites:
2011 SPEA FIM Trial World Championship at Nevis Range, Fort William – http://www.ukworldtrial.com.
FIM – http://www.fim-live.com/en/
ACU – http://www.acu.org.uk/
Trials Central – http://wwwtrialscentral.com/
On Saturday 30 and Sunday 31 July, the Nevis Range, Fort William, in the ‘Outdoor Capital’ of the UK, will again host the UK leg of the 2011 SPEA FIM Trial World Championship, the 36th edition of the biggest, the most important and the best motorcycle trial competition series on the international calendar.
Seven other rounds will be hosted in Germany, France, Japan, Spain, Andorra, Italy and Poland in the 2011 series.
As a major focus for both country and rider, 60 of the most accomplished, composed and skilful motorcycle trials riders from 15 countries around the globe will descend on the Scottish Highlands to battle it out for valuable points towards the 2011 SPEA FIM Trial World Championship World Pro (male only at Fort William), World Junior (male and female) and World Youth (male and female) titles.
There will be a real war of attrition between riders as Fort William hosts the penultimate round of eight Grand Prix events; the potential for titles to be both won and lost high on the agenda.
Funding and support
The 2011 SPEA FIM Trial World Championship at Nevis Range, Fort William is supported by EventScotland, Highland and Islands Enterprise and The Highland Council together with Nevis Range, Alcan, Forestry Commission Scotland, VisitScotland, Outdoor Capital of the UK, TMX and Hope.
The sport
Motorcycle trials is unique in the world of motorsport.
It is the only discipline where the winner is decided on skill alone. It is a test of riding skill and balance over observed sections.
When competitors ride the timed sections their feet must remain on the footrests of the motorcycle as they negotiate seemingly impossible obstacles, both natural and man made. They must negotiate steep gullies, slippery rock steps, rocky streams or 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 sport originated in the UK nearly a century ago and has enjoyed a long association with Fort William and Lochaber – The Outdoor Capital of the UK – as host to the World famous Scottish Six Days Trial that celebrates its centenary in 2011.
World championship classes
World Pro – As the name suggests, this is the world’s elite – the professionals, the best on the planet.
World Junior – This class is for riders aged 16 to 23 years-old and is a feeder class for the top category.
World Youth – Riders in this class are restricted to 125cc machines, and must be aged 16 to 18 years-old.
Governing bodies
The 2010 and 2011 SPEA FIM Trial World Championship and Trial Des Nations 2012 will be run on behalf of the Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) which is the world governing body of motorcycle sport.
The Auto Cycle Union (ACU), the British motorcycle federation, has sanctioned these events to be run within its territory.
The events will be run in accordance with the FIM sporting code, trial regulations, technical rules and environmental code, with delegates from both the FIM and the ACU present throughout the events to ensure compliancy.
EventScotland
EventScotland is the national events agency. EventScotland is working to make Scotland one of the world’s leading event destinations. By developing an exciting portfolio of sporting and cultural events EventScotland is helping to raise Scotland’s international profile and boost the economy by attracting more visitors. For further information about EventScotland, its funding programmes and latest event news visit www.EventScotland.org
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Contact: Paddy Cuthbert
Phone: 07968699636
Email: paddy@podge.co.uk
Website: http://www.ukworldtrial.com.
