Trial Magazine Forum

Trial Magazine Talks Trials – No 4
After a hectic ten days at the SSDT many thoughts spring to mind. The Pre-65 once again was an excellent event with the organisation second to none. After visiting the start area is was a brisk walk up to the sections at Pipeline. It’s still an awesome hazard after all these years for the Pre-65 machines and cleans though plentiful were always greeted from the riders with a huge sigh of relief. On the second day I walked to the sections high above Kinlochleven at Mamore, what a view! The usual trials talk amongst the spectators was as always very interesting. Once again many people made the journey by machine! This must stop if you are not authorised by the club. The land around these superb locations is very delicate and un-authorised riding will jeopardise the future of the event. It was then onto the main event the Scottish Six Days Trial. The drama that unfolded during the week kept every one on there toes. I was fortunate enough to be granted a machine pass from the organisers and a new Honda/Montesa from the new importers and so on the Monday afternoon I made a visit to Blackwater via the Mamore road and then moved onto Coire Mhorair where I witnessed the drama unfold with Dougie Lampkin’s five mark penalty due to machine problems. What a professional rider! No bad language, no tantrums just a quick twenty second pause for thought as he took on board the problem. Credit where its due as he moved onto the next section, if you had not witnessed the five mark penalty you would have not even realised he had a problem. As it turned out it was just the beginning of a difficult day as these machine problems raised there head again later in the day. On the Wednesday afternoon I once again headed out over the Mamore road this time on the new 290cc Sherco and headed for the sections at Grey Mares Tail, Upper Mamore and finished off at Sleubaich. Once again I had the opportunity to witness some dramatic moments in the event which started at Upper Mamore. Eventual winner Alexz Wigg got flicked of line as he approached the step but saved this with a superb single mark effort, did this win him the trial? I then watched Michael Brown take his only marks of the day, a two on the final section of the day at Sleubaich. With a dramatic climax to the event on the Saturday the trial once again lived up to its title of the greatest trial in the world, congratulations to a worthy winner Alexz Wigg on the Beta. Just before I sign off I would like to mention the world round to be held on Ben Nevis over the week-end period of 25-27 June www.ukworldtrial.com  Whilst in Scotland I spoke with both Jake Miller and Martin Lampkin, the event organisers who were both full of enthusiasm. Jake showed me some areas where the sections would be and yes I was very impressed to say the least. Martin explained how much work was going into the event and I am sure it will be the event of the year so make sure you are there, click on the link to order your tickets. A big thank you must also go to David Dench at Triangle Kia www.triangleofchesterfield.co.uk for the loan of the Kia Sorrento, if you have not driven one of these new models you need to! And I would also like to thank the new Honda/Montesa importers www.pidcock.com and MRS the Sherco importers www.mrsltd.co.uk for the use of the machines which were both perfect for the job.