Trials Torque: Dougie leads SSDT line-up
By John Dickinson on 8th Mar 17
Scottish Six Days Trial SSDT Dougie Lampkin
THE official entry list for the 2017 Scottish Six days Trial was released on Monday of this week.
And heading the mighty entry of 280 riders who made it through the ballot is reigning and 10-times winner Dougie Lampkin, who is gunning for what would be an amazing win number 11 and a hat-trick for the Vertigo factory.
There's no James Dabill this year as Doug's former Vertigo team mate and No.1 SSDT challenger is concentrating on World and Spanish championships so it is down to others to step up to the mark and give Doug a run.
There are probably as many as 20 riders capable of taking one of the coveted Best on Day awards.
But based on past performances there's just three or four genuine challengers to keep the pressure on down to the last day.
Michael Brown must be top of the list and the Gas Gas UK rider was in the hunt right until the final day last year before Doug stormed through a super-tough Saturday for win number 10.
Browny will be back with John Shirt Jnr urging him along.
Fellow Gas Gas rider Jack Price made a huge step up last year and must be in with a shout. He has a busy year with World and British campaigns but Jack thrives on challenge and is hungry so expect a strong showing.
And surely Scotland's Gary Macdonald will be looking at giving it another good go at becoming Scotland's first SSDT winner this century.
Past SSDT winners entered are Alexz Wigg and Sam Connor and both are sure to figure as they both go particularly well in the event.
Other names to throw into the mix are Richard Sadler, Guy Kendrew, Jack Sheppard, Dan Thorpe, Sam Haslam, James Fry, Joe Baker, Ross Danby and Jonathan Richardson.
Top lady entered is World Champ Emma Bristow while Newcomers include the talented Jack Peace.
Veteran Jordi Pasquet looks easily the best foreign entry which again includes 1981 winner Gilles Burgat and his French countryman and former World Trials Championship contender Fred Michaud.
More Scottish news will follow on the run-up to this year's event which takes place Monday to Friday, May 1-6.
