Dabill goes to Gas Gas
By TMX Archives on 19th Nov 08
FOLLOWING weeks of speculation, James Dabill and John Shirt have confirmed that James is switching to Gas Gas! Terms have been agreed and Dibs will ride for the Gas Gas factory team and Team JST Gas Gas UK for the 2009 season. James will be supported once again by Jack Lee at both the World Trials Championship and the British Trials Championship as he returns full time to the British series. Having ridden for the Future TRW Montesa Trials Team and Sandifords for the past few years, the current World number eight feels a change will give him the motivation he needs to further his career. He wishes to thank all at TRW, Montesa and Caroline Sandiford for their help.
After winning this years Italian Open Trials Championship, James will be coming home' and will contest the British Trials Championship which will add interest to the BTC and with his great friend Michael Brown recently signing for Sherco, next year looks set to be a very exciting series.
Said British Gas Gas importer John Shirt, To have James on board is fantastic news for us. I feel we have missed Steve Colley after he retired from BTC competition at the end of 2007. His flamboyant riding style was superb to watch and entertained the British fans. With James Dabill I firmly believe we could have the next Steve Colley and I hope it will be the start of a long and successful relationship. I believe James can push towards the top five in the World next year and hopefully win the BTC and SSDT and I will do all I can to provide him with the best machine to acheive this.
With a factory PRO300, Jack Lee as minder, Factory' Kev Hipwell as his mechanic and myself with my size 10s kicking his ass, I'm confident of some good results. It's been a while since Gas Gas won the BTC and SSDT and I want a winner!''
James countered, I am absolutely ectastic to have been given such an oportunity from John Shirt and the Gas Gas
factory. We have been speaking for some time now and we have finally agreed a deal that suits all of us and to be perfectly honest I cannot wait for 2009 to begin.
I am also really looking forward to returning to ride the British Trials Championship. I seem to have been forgotten a little by the UK fans because of riding in Italy but you can rest assured I'll be back next year and can't wait to bang bars' with my buddy Browny! May the best man win!
I want to finish with a massive thank you to TRW and to Caroline and all at Sandifords for two great years.