Doug's boost for Sheffield
By TMX Archives on 1st Dec 06
DOUGIE Lampkin gave his Sheffield Indoor chances a huge boost on Saturday evening when, in front of 4000 fans, he rode to a crushing win in the International Invitation Indoor Trial at Clermont Ferrand in France.
Doug dominated the two-lap event to beat his Repsol-Montesa team-mate Takahisa Fujinami by ten marks.
Doug actually completed the five sections of the opening lap absolutely clean and only dropped a mark during a tactical race as he played safe behind Fujigas.
On the second circuit he dropped a five on the second section, a hazard which proved so hard that no-one beat the maximum penalty. His only other mark was because he ‘sumped-out' on.
Taddy Blazusiak finished third on the factory Scorpa while Britain's James Dabill gave himself some much-needed Indoor practise before Sheffield. The TTT Beta rider had a torrid opening lap but improved markedly second time round and actually outpointed Blazusiak. Jim is looking to quickly get established on the lucrative Indoor circuit and a couple of podium finishes would do his chances no harm.
Doug was in buoyant mood after the event stating, "This is my last competitive event before Sheffield so it is great to finish with a win. The bike is improving all the time and Fuji and I have both shown what it is capable of if we ride well. I just hope I can pull off a repeat performance in front of 8000 home fans!”
The only Spanish rider at Clermont Ferrand was Montesa-mounted teenager Daniel Gibert who retired hurt, leaving French rider Christophe Bruand to finish a distant fifth and last behind Dabill.
RESULTS
Overall: 1 Dougie Lampkin (Repsol Montesa) 1 + 6 = 7, 2 Takahisa Fujinami (Repsol Montesa) 6 + 11 = 17, 3 Tadeusz Blazusiak (Scorpa) 15 + 11 = 26, 4 James Dabill (TTT Beta) 20 - 10 =30, 5 Christophe Bruand (Sherco) 23 = 15 = 38, 6 Daniel Gibert (Montesa) Rtd hurt.