Day Two - Brown moves clear of the field
By G2F on 4th May 10
Michael Brown - Sherco moved three marks clear of the rest of the field, with a clean ride on the second day of the 2010 Scottish Six Days Trial, to take the outright lead. Brown's Sherco team mate Albert Cabestany who had shared thetop spot on the opening day dropped down the leader board with a loss of five marks today. The Spanish rider who is making his debut at the event this year suffered a front wheel puncture that cost him valuable time, and caused him to rush in the sections where he made some soft mistakes. Brown finished as runner up to Dougie Lampkin - Beta in 2008, when the pair were then team mates, so the twenty-three year old from Scarborough certainly has the experience to go one better this time around. Michael was ranked tenth in the World in 2009, but has not started the season well thus far, so he will be hungry for victory this week.
Tuesday is traditionally known as one of the big days of the competition with the riders covering one hundred and three miles as they first headed North towards Fort Augustus before then travelling cross country to Creag Lundie, which was host to five sections. After the problems with time yesterday, the riders made swift progress today, with many arriving back in the parc ferme at the West End car park in Fort William with plenty of time to carry out essential running repairs.
Last year's runner up Alexz Wigg - Beta was one of four riders who remained feet up today, as he joined Brown, Lampkin and Scotland's Gary MacDonald - Gas Gas in completing all thirty sections totally unpenalised. With nothing further to add to their overnight scores this has lifted Wigg and MacDonald to second and third places overall respectively after two out of the six days, with only a single mark between these two riders.
Lampkin was desperate for a better showing, after his disasterous opening day, his second day performance has allowed him to climb into the top thirty, although some way off the lead. Dougie's cousin Ben Hemingway - Beta currently holds fourth spot, tied on seven marks in total with MacDonald, after dropping a single dab today.
Emma Bristow - Gas Gas is currently the highest placed female competitor on one hundred and one marks in one hundred and sixth position. She heads Becky Cook - Sherco by just four marks, who in turn is thirteen marks in front of Joanne Coles - Gas Gas. With these three ladies locked in battle, the fight for female supremacy looks set to be another close affair.
Although Cabestany heads the newcomers category, teenager Ben Morphett - Beta can be proud of his second place in this class so far at this early stage in his emerging career.
2010 Results
Day 2 - Daily Positions / Scores
1: Michael Brown - Sherco - 0
2: Alexz Wigg - Beta - 0
3: Gary MacDonald - Gas Gas - 0
4: Dougie Lampkin - Beta - 0
5: Ben Hemingway - Beta - 1
6: James Dabill - Gas Gas - 2
7: Ross Danby - Gas Gas - 3
8: Jack Challoner - Beta - 3
9: Sam Haslam - Gas Gas - 3
10: Joe Baker - Scorpa - 3
11: Darren Brice - Scorpa - 5
12: James Lampkin - Beta - 5
13: Albert Cabestany - Sherco - 5
14: Ian Austermuhle - Beta - 7
15: Dan Hemingway - Beta - 7
Overall Positions / Scores
1: Michael Brown - Sherco - 3
2: Alexz Wigg - Beta - 6
3: Gary MacDonald - Gas Gas - 7
4: Ben Hemingway - Beta - 7
5: Albert Cabestany - Sherco - 8
6: James Dabill - Gas Gas - 10
7: James Lampkin - Beta - 12
8: Ian Austermuhle - Beta - 12
9: Jack Challoner - Beta - 15
10: Ross Danby - Gas Gas -15
11: Craig Robinson - Gas Gas - 16
12: John Crinson - Beta - 18
13: Jonathan Richardson - Sherco - 22
14: Dan Hemingway - Beta - 22
15: Darren Brice - Scorpa - 23