Italian Championship 17 June 2007
By TMX Archives on 18th Jun 07
For the third round in a row, James Dabill brought his Future TRW Montesa Cota 4RT home in a close second place behind his more experienced team mate Fabio Lenzi. Despite never having finished lower than runner up in the six counting events to date, Dabill finally surrendered his series lead to Lenzi, after having led the Italain domestic championship since the opening round back in March.
Dabill did little wrong at the latest competition in Italy and posted three identical lap scores of just eight marks as he visited the ten sections three times during what was an extremely hot day. With the exception of the first man made hazard, the remaining sections lacked variety with them all consisting of dry and grippy rocks.
The young British rider held a one mark lead over his main rival as they went into the final lap, but Lenzi produced an amazing closing performance to snatch the win from Dabill by just two marks.
James collected one five on each of his three laps, with section three proving to be his bogey hazard. It was not until the penultimate hazard on the first lap that Dabill recorded his first maximum, as his rear wheel slid away on the cambered face that followed the final step.
Whilst James put amends to this mistake on the following two laps, he suffered two identical failures at the third hazard on his last two visits. Here Dabill was unable to get sufficient drive on the loose approach to a massive step, and without enough speed a five was the only result that was ever on the cards.
Slightly dejected with his recent run of form in the Italian series Dabill commented. Compared to my performances at World level, my results in the Italian championship have not been good. With no disrespect to Lenzi, I really should have won more of the rounds than I have to date. Obviously losing the series lead is a disappointment, but I have still got two rounds to make amends. I am just glad there is a break now as that will give me a chance to regroup and come back with a fresh approach.
It has been a tough period, and has been non stop since before Scotland. I am looking forward to going home this week, and having a weekend off before I return to Italy for the first domestic indoor event and then the Italian Grand Prix.
Italian Championship 17 June 2007 Round 6 Montorio Vomano
1: Fabio Lenzi 7+10+5=22
2: James Dabill 8+8+8=24
3: Tsuyoshi Ogawa 20+17+10=47
4: Michele Orizio 16+24+10=50
5: Matteo Grattarola 24+22+11=57
6: Danielle Maurino 21+20+20+2T=63
Championship to date:
1: Lenzi 132
2: Dabill 130
3: Maurino 83
2007 Calendar
June 27 Italian Indoor, round 1
July 01 Outdoor World Championship, round 5 Erba, Italy
08 Outdoor World Championship, round 6
Myslenice, Poland
15 Outdoor World Championship, round 7
Kramolin, Czech Republic
29 Outdoor World Championship, round 8
Hawkstone Park, UK