Dougie Lampkin - Beta endured a difficult day at round six of the 2010 SPEA FIM Trial World Championship. The thirty-four year old veteran who had ridden so well in France just seven days earlier, could not find the same form as the series moved onto to the small principality of San Marino. Despite not riding at all well all day Lampkin still managed to salvage sixth position, and be the best British rider on the day.

As had been the case at the French GP, forecasted rain once again threatened to turn the dust to mud. However although the skies looked dark and heavy as the start of the trial approached on Sunday morning, the rain was restricted to nothing more than a few light spots that played no part in changing the dry and slippery conditions.

Not since 1998, had the series visited this venue, and back then Dougie topped both days of competition. Returning to the ex Grand Prix motocross venue, the trial followed a similar format to what it did twelve years ago.

 

Most of the fifteeen sections were situated in a dry river bed a couple of kilometres below the paddock, with just the last three man made hazards being close to the start / finish area. Lampkin was again praying for rain, but this time his prayers were not answered.

After two nervous dabs in the opening two sections, Lampkin was in trouble as early as the third hazard, as his hand slipped off the handlebar as he attacked the final angled slab. This was to set the tone for the day, as Dougie looked completely out of sorts in the dry and technical zones. Another five in section seven and three - threes towards the end of the lap took his tally to twenty three, at what was a low scoring event.

The second lap did not prove to be much kinder to the ex multi World champion as he again failed at section three and seven, before suffering another failure at the tenth hazard this time around. Ironically Dougie saved by far his best ride of the day to the final section on the last lap. His single dab effort on the big boulders only being beaten by eventual winner Bou on the second lap.

Despite his bad day at the office Lampkin moved a point closer to his British counterpart James Dabill in the general standings, with the elder statesman now trailing his younger rival by just ten points with two rounds still to go.

Lampkin stated. "Its been a bad day from start to finish. I have not managed to hit a line all day. When I started so badly, I did live in hope that the day was going to get better, but it never did. The sections were not my favourite, but that is no excuse."

"I think it would have been a better trial for everyone if it had of rained. The sections were easy if you were on line, but were easy to five if you were off line. I have been offline for most of the day."

"Last weekend in France I rode really well and only finished fifth, today I have been terrible and have somehow finished sixth. Let's hope I can regain some kind of form ready for Italy next weekend." Ended Dougie.

High resolution copyright free images for editorial use available on request.