ssdt news

When James Dabill’s - Beta name was read out as the winner of the 2011 Scottish Six Days Trial (SSDT) late last Saturday evening, his wide smile told the story. After enduring six days of highs and lows the current British trials champion took a moment to fully absorb the scale of his achievement, having claimed victory at the centenary edition of this legendary event. James first added his name to the prestigious award back in 2007, when he took the win onboard his Montesa Cota 4RT and recorded the first four stroke victory since Alan Lampkin and his 250 BSA’s success way back in 1966. In taking his second SSDT title, the twenty five year old has handed Italian manufacturer, Beta their fourth consecutive win in the Scottish Highlands in as many years. With Dougie Lampkin having won in both 2008 and 2009, and the young pretender Alexz Wigg claiming victory in 2010, Dabill completed the four year sweep by claiming the victory in 2011. After a series of slightly disappointing results at the SSDT since his success in 2007, James finished third in 2008, fourth during 2009 and a lonely sixth last year, Dabill knew he had it all to do this time around. Onboard a new machine and with renewed confidence the Beta teamster started the week slowly finishing the opening day in fifth place. It was during the fourth day of competition that James finally saw his name reach the top of the leader board, where it stayed until the bitter end. After the event Dabill spoke about his victory. “To take my second SSDT win feels absolutely unbelievable, this event means so much to so many people and to lift the trophy at the centenary edition is more special than I can explain.” “The sections have been really slippery today so it was obvious from the start that I was going to drop some marks, but I’m really pleased with how I’ve ridden all week to be honest. Over the past couple of years I have struggled to get into the swing of things, but I tried to stay strong this week. I started the week confident that I could fight for the win and even after the first day when I was lying down in fifth overall I still knew I was in with a chance, as anything can happen in Scotland, that is what makes it so special.” “The start of this year was hard for me, I had a new bike and a new team, plus I lost my minder Jack Lee so there was a lot to take in. I took the Indoor series with a pinch of salt and looked at them as a learning curve and kept my head high. Coming to Scotland you need confidence and after claiming the first two rounds of the British Championship that is what I had. Next weekend is the opening round of the World Championship in Germany and I’ll be looking to carry through my good results.” “Since the start of the season I’ve really worked hard and I think this victory shows that it is all starting to pay off. Winning the SSDT is an amazing feeling any year, but the fact this year celebrates the centenary makes it all the more special,” concluded James. View the full article on the SSDT Website

I think all will agree that the Centenary SSDT was a fantastic event again this year....but it's not over yet! Edinburgh & District Motor Club are marking the 100th anniversary with a historic bike run on Sunday 29th of May.

Overnight leader James Dabill - Beta held his nerve brilliantly to secure the win during a tense and close finish to the centenary edition of the Scottish Six Days Trial (SSDT). Riding at the front of the field Dabill lost marks as early as the second group at Upper Mamore to see his advantage reduced to just two marks and then saw things come far too close for comfort as he dropped a further dab at Leanachan. Holding just a one mark lead going into Ben Nevis, Dabill showed great composure by cleaning all six sections in what looked like a certain winning performance until he parted with another dab at Nevis Forest to leave him tied on the same marks overall as Alexz Wigg - Sherco. Further down the running order Wigg was more than aware of what Dabill was doing ahead of him and was showing the same steely determination that had netted him the win last year. Twelve months ago Alexz went clean on the final day to secure the victory, and as he exited Ben Nevis still unpenalised this time around it looked like history was about to repeat itself. Hasty calculations, with Wigg just three sections from home, revealed that he and Dabill were now tied on the same marks, but Alexz would be declared the winner due havinghad the most cleans throughout the week.

We're so sorry about the delay in getting these to you folks.

Saturday's results (Live!) Update at 13:00 First riders just arrived at the Ben sections.....nearly at the end of a long and hard (but brilliant!) week!

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 four hundred and fifty miles and included one hundred and fifty 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 twelve 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.

After a tough fifth day of the 2011 Scottish Six Days Trial (SSDT) James Dabill - Beta remains ahead of his nearest rivals following a confident performance that saw him drop only two marks in the thirty observed sections, which were spread around today's seventy-nine mile peninsula based route. Dabill, who is the reigning British Trials Champion and is currently undefeated in this year's domestic series, holds a four mark advantage over Alexz Wigg - Sherco going into the final day. Wigg, who himself was victorious at last year's SSDT, matched Dabill mark for mark today as he too parted with two dabs during his penultimate excursion in the Scottish Highlands. Twenty-one year old Wigg from Aylesbury in Oxfordshire started the week slowly by losing seven marks on the first day, which put him down in twelfth place, but has gradually ridden his way into contention as he looks for a second win in a row.

Update at 13:45 Not much to report today so far folks!

As the Scottish Six Days Trial (SSDT) celebrates its centenary this week, there has been much talk about the nostalgia and history surrounding this World famous event and rightly so. However, equally important it is also a good moment to think about the future of this great competition and to look towards the next hundred years of the SSDT taking place in the Scottish Highlands. The continued flow of new and young riders to the SSDT will be at the heart of the rolling story, and this week has once again confirmed the importance of this event with two of the current best young riders in the World fighting it out for the newcomers award. With a long route each day, more traditional style sections and no-stop rules the SSDT is a far cry from today's FIM Trial World Championship, but these differences have been fully embraced and enjoyed by Alfredo Gomez - Montesa and Jack Sheppard - Beta.

Under the first rain of the week, the 2011 Scottish Six Days Trial (SSDT) welcomed its third different leader in three days as James Dabill - Beta moved to the top of the cumulative standings after only dropping a single mark earlier today. The recently turned twenty-five year old from Leeds, West Yorkshire who won the SSDT back in 2007, lost his mark at the top section at Gorton and now holds a one mark lead over Graham Jarvis - Montesa at this critical point in the trial. Jarvis continues to enjoy a successful return to this event, and remains very much in contention to take his fifth win, after he also parted with just one dab, his being at Lochs Wood. Last night's leader Dougie Lampkin - Gas Gas now sits in third place overall following a bad five at Fersit that saw the five times former winner badly damage his left ankle. Despite sustaining severe ligament damage Lampkin will attempt to ride and defend his position tomorrow after attending hospital earlier this evening.

Sorry folks - the office has been a whirlwind of problems to sort and visitors through the door, this is the first time I've sat down at the computer today! Thursday's route is traditionally a long haul - down to Glencoe, over Rannoch Moor, up north through Corrour before finishing with Fersit and coming back home through Spean Bridge.

After a break of a quarter of a century Italian rider Diego Bosis

Dougie Lampkin - Gas Gas signalled his intent to take a record breaking sixth win as he took over the lead of the 2011 Scottish Six Days Trial (SSDT) as the centenary event reached the halfway stage. Thirty-five year old Dougie from Silsden, West Yorkshire dropped one mark in today's thirty sections to move to the head of the standings, as Tuesday's leader Michael Brown - Gas Gas endured his worst day thus far and fell back to fifth place overall. A soft five at the last section at Annatt cost Brown dearly as he dropped six marks on day three. Things could not be tighter at the top, with Lampkin only having a slim advantage over James Dabill - Beta who rode himself back into contention with a single dab performance on the third of six days. The 2007 winner lost his only mark at Loch Shiel B post the lunch stop. Lampkin and Dabill are now closely followed by Graham Jarvis - Montesa who sits on seven marks in total after he parted with just a single mark in the difficult opening section at Inversanda. Last year's victor Alexz Wigg - Sherco went unpenalised today and now holds fourth spot on the same marks as Brown and Gary MacDonald - Gas Gas.

Update at 12:00 Not much to report today folks - it's all quiet at the moment in sunny Fort William!

With two gruelling days of the Scottish Six Days Trial (SSDT) under her belt, twenty year old Emma Bristow is leading the ladies class by a margin of nineteen marks. It would be fair to say that running up to this iconic event World number two Rebekah Cook was the girl to beat and the one that everyone would be watching, but whilst Becky has ridden well it has been Ossa mounted Emma who has stolen the show so far. "Monday was a really good ride for me, I just managed to get into a comfortable pace quite quickly and come the end of the day I was more than pleased with my result having built up a small margin between me and the other girls. Tuesday was also good, I think the great weather always helps, it becomes a more enjoyable event as you are not constantly uncomfortable whilst riding on the road sections," commented Emma.

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.

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.

Update at 10:45 It is another absolutely glorious day in Fort William....I keep expecting to wake up and find that the rain has started, but no, we're still holding out!

Day one of the Scottish Six Days Trial (SSDT) is a daunting time for all concerned, but for the small number of virgin riders who are new to the event, the opening day is filled with even more tension than usual. 2009 UCI Downhill World Champion and three times World Cup Champion Steve Peat has made his name on the mountain biking scene, but motorcycle trials is still relatively new to the thirty-three year old. Having entered and successfully finished the notorious Scott Trial in 2010 the friendly giant from Sheffield decided to enter the SSDT for 2011.

Gas Gas team mates Dougie Lampkin and Michael Brown share the lead at the end of day one of the 2011 Scottish Six Days Trial (SSDT) after a glorious opening to the centenary edition of this World famous event. Both Lampkin and Brown completed the first of six days without any loss of marks having ridden the initial thirty observed sections that took them on a fifty-eight mile tour of the Scottish Highlands in an overall time limit of just over seven hours. Whilst conditions out on the moors were as dry as they have ever been, the lack of water over the winter months had left the boulders green and greasy. Uninterrupted sunshine shone throughout the day as the two hundred and seventy six competitors took their first step towards a week of riding . The initial group of four sections at Leanachen proved to be a tough opening test with the second hazard being particularly difficult and taking many early marks from most of the field. Previous SSDT winner Graham Jarvis - Montesa and last year's victor Alexz Wigg - Sherco were to record two exceptional cleans here despite running close to the front of the entry when conditions were at their worst and most slippery.

Alex Salmond - First Minister of Scotland was a welcomed visitor to the Scottish Six Days Trial (SSDT) earlier today, as he toured the Parc Ferme as part of his current election campaign. The charasmatic politician was in good spirits as he enjoyed the glorious sunshine that has beseiged Fort William over more recent days. The SNP leader took time out from his busy schedule to meet the last few competitors of the field of two hundred and seventy six riders as they were about to set out on their first day of six in the Scottish Highlands.

Latest update : 12:00 Hi folks!

Day one of the centenary edition of the Scottish Six Days Trial (SSDT) has finally arrived. One hundred years after this adventure first began, the lucky two hundred and seventy six riders have gathered in the West End car park for the start of the 2011 SSDT. The history of the SSDT is rich, with only an elite group of riders having managed to put their name on the famous winners’ trophy. 2007 SSDT victor and current British trials champion James Dabill is keen to prove his victory four years ago was no fluke and that he has what it takes to claim his second victory on this important occasion.

With the Royal wedding having been and gone, World attention has now shifted to the loch-side town of Fort William, which will be the base for the famous Scottish Six Days Trial (SSDT) that will celebrate its centenary when the actual competition gets underway early tomorrow morning. For one hundred years motorcyclists have made the pilgrimage to the Highlands to take part in what remains a unique event and one that still duly tests man and machine to the limit. Glorious sunshine created the fitting backdrop for the competitors to make their last minute preparations in order to be ready to be part of this historic occasion.

After a fantastic weekend of sun in Kinlochleven, the provisional results for the P65 are now available. Provisional P65 Results View the full article on the SSDT Website