Interview: Dougie Lampkin
By TMX Archives on 25th Jun 15
One of the legends of the UK motorcycle scene will be attending the 2015 RHL Weston Beach race in October.
12 time world Trials champion and Red Bull athlete Dougie Lampkin will be lighting up the North Somerset coastline with his exceptional bike skills on his Vertigo Combat machine - we caught up with Dougie to talk about his amazing career so far and his return to the RHL Weston Beach Race.
WBR: Dougie your year so far has been super busy to say the least, explain to us what you've been upto?
"Yes really busy, I don't seem to have stopped between developing the new Vertigo Combat and attend all the World Championship Trial events as Sports Team manager whilst still working on my own projects with Red Bull and other partners.”
WBR: Your Trials career has been amazing to say the least, 12 world titles, indoor and outdoor, what one championship stands out more than any other and why?
"I think the first outdoor one will always be the most special as I always dreamed of being a Champion and that was always the target from being a kid. After that holding on as long as possible also brought a lot of satisfaction as there's only one place to go and that was down!”
WBR: You also won 4 Scottish Six Days titles on the bounce, how different is that event to any other you prepare for?
"The SSDT is a really difficult event and no matter how much training and preparation you do it never seems enough as the week is so long and a little luck is needed through the week in terms of weather, bike reliability etc.”
WBR: This year you're back at the RHL Weston Beach Race for the second time, what can we expect to see from you over the busy weekend down in Somerset?
"I'm looking forward to coming back again and hopefully the sun will be there too! It's great to ride around in-between the crowds and throw in a few surprises on the way too.”
WBR: You've never raced Weston, is that something you have planned for the future?
"The idea sounds great, but it's tough and I'm useless at riding on sand plus I'm not fast enough! Is that enough excuses?”
WBR: HAHA, yes. What about other extreme Enduro races around the world are you planning to enter any time soon?
"I think the next one will be Red Bull Sea to Sky in Turkey, I've ridden the last two years and really enjoy the different events over the three days, well after the opening beach race!”
WBR: The recently appeared on the One Show on BBC1, how did that come about?
"I rode at the Pageant of Power event at Cholmondeley Castle so the One Show was all part of the same project. It's also great to get off road bikes on the mainstream TV.”
WBR: Yes definitely good to see bikes back on the BBC. The Red Bull video is a little special, was that filmed in one day?
"That particular video was a bit of a challenge filmed over three days. It was more of a journey with very little extreme content so I worked with Sam Needham to make sure we got the most out of it. I'm chuffed with the result so all the effort was worth it.”
WBR: You being a Red Bull athlete you get to visit and shoot in some amazing places, the Tundra video in Finland was spectacular, what has been your favourite one so far and are we going to see even more amazing videos this year from you and Red Bull?
"I've been so lucky to be with Red Bull for so long. I am now in my fifteenth year with them and my idea to ride on ice somewhere gathered a lot of momentum and ended up at the ice hotel in North Finland! So far it's the best experience I have had to ride in extreme conditions, but we are already working on the next filming project, which if it actually works will be amazing so watch this space.”
WBR: Now you've got us excited. You mentioned your Vertigo bike, how do you see that evolving over the coming years?
"It's great to have been part of a project from the beginning through the development and now I will also import the bike into the UK. We are working on the next models and continuing to develop the bike, our aim was to make not only a bike, but the best one so that's the mission.”
WBR: Awesome stuff, good luck for the rest of the year and see you in Weston on October 9-11.
