Doug ready for Marseille
By TMX Archives on 16th Jan 08
THE 2008 World Indoor Trials Championship kicks-off this Saturday night in Marseille, in the south of France, and Britain's Dougie Lampkin will officially be in action for the first time on his factory Beta REV3 two-stroke since his sensational switch from Montesa four-stroke power! Doug has been in Spain over the New Year, doing his best to get used to the flighty two-stroke power once again after three years on a four-popper and also sussing
out the Beta linkless rear suspension. Dougie won three World Championships for Beta but on the Techno model which featured a link system.
Doug did test ride the very first linkless REV3 model but never rode one in competition as he then signed for the rival Montesa concern. Word is that he has found the suspension absolutely fine and just needs to get back into full-on two-stroke mode once again. When he gets in the groove, Doug is reportedly making the REV3 talk!
Being fair, no-one is really expecting Doug to beat Indoor kings Toni Bou and Adam Raga although it would be nice! Bou is virtually unstoppable at the moment but, if Raga can keep his head up, he is
still capable of an upset, especially on his beautiful custom-built, lightweight special Gas Gas.
Doug will be hoping to hold his own with ex team-mate Takahisa Fujinami and Sherco's Albert Cabestany though. And he will be up against fellow Brit James Dabill who gets a welcome World Champ start on the 2008 Future Montesa. Dibs rode exceptionally well in the recent Sheffield Indoor and if he can carry that form into the World series it will be a major confidence booster for the Leeds-based challenger.
Marseille heads-up a shortened six-round 2008 World Indoor series, having been moved from its initial Friday date to Saturday night. The series will move on to Barcelona on Saturday, February 3 and will also end in Spain, in Madrid, on Saturday, March 15.