SSDT Day 3: Brown takes the lead
By John Dickinson on 5th May 16
Michael Brown edged into the lead of the 2016 Scottish Six Days Trial on the third day, the Gas Gas ace dropping just a single mark through the days 30 sections.
Michael deposed overnight leader Dougie Lampkin, the Vertigo rider shooting for his tenth SSDT victory showing a three mark loss for the day but adamant that he only dropped two.
And West Country Sherco rider and Monday trial leader Joe Baker is still right in there with a chance of victory having dropped just three for the day and sitting on a total of 13 – just three off the lead, Baker, Brown and Lampkin having opened up a gap over local ace Gary MacDonald whose ten for the day doubled his overall total to 20
But on a day when only a dozen riders posted a single figure score the best on Day trophy went to veteran Beta mounted former SSDT winner Sam Connor who showed that he still has what it takes and is sitting in a fine seventh overall.
Alexz Wigg and James Dabill, both past SSDT winners, drifted away from contention for the lead today with 10 marks losses, both picking up fives at Big Dar's Burn.
The day mirrored last year's all new route and took th contestants from Fort William down the Mamore road to Kinlochleven, then over the tops to Alt Na Feadh then down Glen Etive and onto the moors to Appin, on the Oban road and then back to base on tarmac.
The moors were particularly wet and there were a lot of very muddy riders and machines who arrived at final group of the day Bealach, one of last year's finds. It was a shortish day, around 57 miles before adding a further 20 or so for the run home on the road but a tiring one as the event reached the half way mark.
In the scrap for Best Newcomer Tom Hooper – who took a stunning clean on the fierce Big Dar's Burn - eased ahead of rival Dan Peace, the Sherco rider easing round to drop a mere three to give himself an 11 point advantage over the Gas Gas challenger, the British pairing now well clear of Swiss star Noe Pretalli.
Emma Bristow, having a superb ride today dropping just 17 marks, is now well clear of the Ladies battle, almost 100 points ahead of Sandra Gomez and Katy Sunter who amazingly are both sitting on 164 marks.
2016 SCOTTISH SIX DAYS TRIAL
Results – Day 3 – Wednesday
1 Michael Brown (300 JST Gas Gas) 1 + 9 = 10
2 Dougie Lampkin (300 Vertigo) 3 + 8 = 11
3 Joe Baker (300 MRS Active Bikesport Sherco) 3 + 10 = 13
4 Gary MacDonald (300 Scorpa) 10 + 10 = 20
5 James Dabill (300 Vertigo Factory) 10 + 13 = 23
6 Alexz Wigg (300 JST Gas Gas UK) 13 + 10 = 23
7 Sam Connor (300 Beta) 0 + 25 = 25
8 Jack Sheppard (300 Beta UK) 8 + 19 = 27
9 James Lampkin (250 Beta UK) 10 + 19 = 29
10 Sam Haslam (300 Gas Gas) 1 + 29 = 30
11 Thomas Sagar (300 Sherco) 9 + 22 = 31
12 Declan Bullock (300 Beta) 11 + 21 = 32
13 Jonathan Richardson (300 Beta) 7 + 26 = 33
14 Amos Bilbao Gonzalez (249 Montesa) 7 + 27 = 34
15 Dan Thorpe (300 Gas Gas) 16 + 18 = 34
16 Ben Hemingway (MRS Sherco) 8 + 27 = 35
17 James Stones (300 MRS Sherco) 10 + 25 = 35
18 Tom Hooper (125 MRS RCM Sherco) 3 + 35 = 38
19 Ian Austermuhle (300 Beta UK) 10 + 30 = 40
20 Chris Pearson (300 MRS Splat Sherco) 15 + 26 = 41
21 Guy Kendrew (300 Beta) 18 + 28 = 46
22 Ross Danby (300 TRS UK) 20 + 27 = 47
23 Dan Peace (125 Gas Gas) 10 + 39 = 49
24 Dan Hemingway (300 Beta) 12 + 40 = 52
25 Luke Walker (300 MRS Sherco) 22 + 32 = 54
Best Newcomer: Tom Hooper (125 MRS RCM Sherco) 3 + 35 = 38
Best Lady: Emma Bristow (300 MRS Sherco) 17 + 62 = 79
Best Services: Phil Wiffen (300 Acklams Beta) 50 + 98 = 148
Best Over 40: Dougie Lampkin (300 Vertigo) 3 + 8 = 11
Best Scot: Gary MacDonald (300 Scorpa) 10 + 10 = 20
Best Scottish Newcomer: Lewis Byron (125 Putoline Beta) 50 + 105 = 155
