Dabill & Vertigo secure second British title
By TMX Archives on 19th Sep 16
Fresh from his podium placing at last weekends FIM Trial des Nations in France, factory Vertigo rider James Dabill secured a second British Trials Championship for the Spanish company as he notched up his eighth win of the series to seal the title with still one round of the 2016 campaign remaining.
Although two days of competition are still up for grabs in Scotland early next month, Dabill can now not be caught in the overall standings with the seven times champion having moved forty-six points ahead of his nearest challenger with only forty points more to be won.
Dabill's route to his latest domestic crown could not have been more tense as just eight marks separated the today's top four, and with the eventual podium places being split by a mere two marks. Whilst James was never headed over the three laps of twelve sections that were ridden in hot conditions, it was only on his last lap that he managed to finally clinch his all-important eighth victory of the year.
Section ten proved to be Dabill's bogey hazard at the new venue, with the greasy boulders that defined the trial located in the North East of England, twice catching out the factory Vertigo rider. These two maximums, one on lap one and one on lap two, were the only marks that James parted with all day as he again showcased the incredible performance of the two-stroke Vertigo Combat in tricky and testing conditions.
Fittingly James signed off with a clean last lap to take the win at the penultimate event in the series and seal his seventh domestic crown and the second in a row for him and Vertigo. Dabill has only been beaten once in this year's British series, at the last round, in what otherwise has been another dominant title defence by the reigning champion.
Iwan Roberts and Jack Price rounded out today's podium respectively after having pushed Dabill hard all day. Jack Sheppard remains second in the series standings despite only managing fourth place this time out, but now only has a two-point lead over Price going into the deciding and closing round.
Having now beaten Dougie Lampkin's total of six British titles, Dabill was rightfully in high spirits after having taken his seventh crown ahead of the final event. "I knew I could wrap things up today, so there was always added pressure in the back of my mind. The club had done a lot of work, but the trial was a bit on the easy-side. Fiving the same section twice, but in two different ways was far from ideal and meant it was tight going into the last lap.”
"Thankfully a different approach to section ten on lap three meant I put in a clean final lap which was enough to give me the win. Taking the title ahead of the last round feels amazing as I can now go to Scotland and really enjoy myself. Winning seven British championships is incredible, and to have one more than Dougie makes it feel even more special.” Said James with a wry smile.
Dabill ended by saying. "Finally I would like to thank everyone at the Vertigo factory and at Vertigo UK, as this title has been a real team effort.”
