SSDT Day Six - Wigg goes clean to win SSDT
By G2F on 9th May 10
Twenty year old Alexz Wigg - Beta from Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire achieved his life long goal by winning the 2010 Scottish Six Days Trial (SSDT). Wigg went into the sixth and deciding day with a three way share of the lead, but the youngster kept his nerve brilliantly to stay clean when it mattered to snatch the most important victory of his career to date.
Wigg is no stranger to top level success with him having already won both the FIM Youth Trial World Cup and the FIM Junior Trial World Cup in 2006 and 2009 respectively. However the Beta rider was more determined than ever to add the SSDT to his list of achievements after having missed out on the win last year by just a single mark.
The competition at the sharp end of the leader board has been fierce all week and day six was no exception, as the drama unfolded in almost tropical weather. Michael Brown - Sherco who had led the event for most of the week before being docked five marks when his bike would not start on Thursday morning had the daunting task of setting the pace, with today being his early day. His loss of just two marks despite the difficult conditions he faced, initially looked to be good enough for him to take the win.
The wait was agonising, as over two hours past before the next group of top riders arrived back in the town centre to complete the final and famous section at Town Hall Brae. Wigg's wide smile as he appeared amongst the Saturday afternoon shoppers told the story that everyone wanted to know. After a nervous inspection Alexz rode the last hazard in style before bursting with relief as he past through the ends cards.
In the town square below Ben Hemingway - Beta was only too aware of the celebrations taking place higher up the hill. The thirty-two year old outsider had done his best, but once again it was not quite enough. His loss of two for the day meant he finished in third place overall as he lost out on a tie break with Brown. This podium finish adds to the three runners' up awards Ben has received in the past.
Only Dougie Lampkin - Beta managed to match Wigg's faultless performance on the day, as the veteran campaigner moved up to eighth position in the final standings after only dropping two marks over the final five days of the competition. Lampkin's total of eight marks on observation for the entire week would have given him his third successive victory and six in total if he had not incurred hefty time penalties on the opening day due to an electrical fault.
Lampkin finally over took Albert Cabestany - Sherco in the final placings, as the Spanish rider finished in ninth spot at his first attempt to secure the best new comers award, following a mixed showing by the World star. Teenage Ben Morphett - Beta was the next best first timer, as he showed he is a name to be watched in the future.
Becky Cook - Sherco narrowly beat Emma Bristow - Gas Gas in the female class, with a mere eight marks separating the two of them after six days of tough competition. Whilst Harold Crawford - Beta, Wigg's riding mate and minder at the World championship, made it a double celebration in their camp as he topped the over forty's category by finishing fourteen marks ahead of Mick Boam - Scorpa.
After such a great event all eyes are now firmly fixed on next May when the SSDT will celebrate its 100th birthday.
2010Results
Day 6 - Daily Positions / Scores
1: Alexz Wigg - Beta- 0
2: Dougie Lampkin - Beta - 0
3: Michael Brown - Sherco - 2
4: BenHemingway - Beta - 2
5: Joe Baker - Scorpa - 3
6: Ian Austermuhle - Beta- 3
7: Gary MacDonald - Gas Gas - 4
8: Ross Danby - Gas Gas - 7
9: BenMorphett - Beta - 7
10: Sam Connor - Beta - 7
11: James Dabill - Gas Gas- 7
12: Dan Hemingway - Beta - 7
13: Albert Cabestany - Sherco - 7
14:Dan Thorpe - Gas Gas - 9
15: James Fry - Sherco - 9
FinalPositions / Scores
1: Alexz Wigg - Beta - 15
2: Michael Brown- Sherco - 17
3: Ben Hemingway - Beta - 17
4: Ian Austermuhle - Beta -21
5: Gary MacDonald - Gas Gas - 25
6: James Dabill - Gas Gas - 27
7:Ross Danby - Gas Gas - 34
8: Dougie Lampkin - Beta - 35
9: AlbertCabestany - Sherco - 37
10: Sam Connor - Beta - 42
11: Jonathan Richardson- Sherco - 43
12: Dan Thorpe - Gas Gas - 44
13: James Lampkin - Beta -47
14: Joe Baker - Scorpa - 53
15: John Shirt - Gas Gas - 55