Day
Six - Wigg goes clean to win SSDT
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.