TWENTY-four year old Michael Brown – Gas Gas from Scarborough edged clear of the chasing pack on the second day of the 2011 Scottish Six Days Trial (SSDT) with a two mark ride to follow on from his clean performance yesterday.
Brown’s lead is a slender one, with him holding a single mark advantage over his team mate Dougie Lampkin – Gas Gas who dropped three marks today.
Lampkin failed to find the right line in the final section at Creag Lundie and knows he will have to work extra hard if he is to record a record breaking sixth win come the end of the week.
Last year’s winner Alexz Wigg – Sherco was best on the day with a score of only one mark, which sees him move up to sixth in the overall standings.
In more bright sunshine Ian Austermuhle – Beta maintained his assault with a four mark ride, most of which he lost during the early part of the day when conditions were both slippery and loose.
The popular rider from the North East now has a total of five marks overall, which puts him level with 2007 winner, James Dabill – Beta, who faired better on day two, dropping only two marks.
After a sensational return to the SSDT yesterday, Graham Jarvis – Montesa blotted what had almost been a perfect opening two days for the ex multi winner and veteran campaigner when he fived the second section at Forest Gate.
This single mistake was enough to push Jarvis down to fifth in the overall results and just two marks ahead of local hero Gary MacDonald – Gas Gas, who put in another strong showing amongst the professional riders by losing four marks on a day when the riders covered a hefty 99 miles. MacDonald now holds seventh position. In unusually hot conditions, Ross Danby – Gas Gas, Ben Hemingway – Beta and Dan Thorpe – Gas Gas successfully scrapped it out to remain in the top ten.
In the battle to become the best newcomer there is an interesting fight emerging between two young World riders, with Alfredo Gomez – Montesa from Spain holding a five mark advanatage over Britain’s Jack Sheppard – Beta at this stage of the competition.
Four years in age separates Gomez and Sheppard, with the 21 year old currently enjoying the upper hand over the teenager from Suffolk.
Showing no signs of wanting to let her lead slip, Emma Bristow – Ossa maintained her charge to take the women’s trophy as she moved further ahead of her nearest rival Rebekah Cook – Sherco on day two.
Today (Wednesday 4 May) sees the centenary edition of the SSDT reach its mid-point with a fierce battle developing at the head of the field to claim this most prestigious prize come Saturday afternoon.
Day 2 – Daily Positions / Scores 1 – Alexz Wigg -Sherco – 1 2 – Dan Clark – Beta – 2 3 – James Dabill – Beta – 2 4 – Michael Brown – Gas Gas – 2 5 – Dougie Lampkin – Gas Gas – 3 6 – Ross Danby – Gas Gas – 3 7 – Gary MacDonald – Gas Gas – 4 8 – Sam Connor – Beta – 4 9 – James Lampkin – Beta – 4 10 – Dan Thorpe – Gas Gas – 4 11 – Jordi Picola – Gas Gas – 4 12 – Alfredo Gomez – Montesa – 4 13 – Ian Austermuhle – Beta – 4 14 – Graham Jarvis – Montesa 5 15 – Amos Bilbao – Montesa – 5
Overall – Positions / Scores 1 – Michael Brown – Gas Gas – 2 2 – Dougie Lampkin – Gas Gas – 3 3 – James Dabill – Beta – 5 4 – Ian Austermuhle – Beta – 5 5 – Graham Jarvis – Montesa 6 6 – Alexz Wigg – Sherco 8 7 – Gary MacDonald – Gas Gas – 8 8 – Ross Danby – Gas Gas – 8 9 – Ben Hemingway – Beta – 10 10 – Dan Thorpe – Gas Gas – 13 11 – James Lampkin – Beta – 13 12 – Sam Connor – Beta – 14 13 – Joe Baker – Scorpa – 14 14 – Sam Haslam – Gas Gas 15 15 – Tom Sagar – Montesa – 15
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
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Highland Council – www.highland.gov.uk
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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
