There was no fairytale ending to the 2010 SPEA FIM Trial World Championship for Dougie Lampkin - Beta as he finished in seventh place at the final Grand Prix of the season held at Kramolin in the Czech Republic. This result, and having missed two points scoring days in Japan due to riding at the Erzberg extreme enduro, means that Dougie has ended up in seventh place in the final standings, which is one place lower than last year.

The ex motocross Grand Prix circuit in the Czech Republic is a familiar location for Dougie, with the ex multi FIM Trial World Champion having visited the hillside track several times throughout his long and winning career. This time around the wooded areas surrounding the paddock area had been saturated by heavy and prolonged rainfall in the weeks prior to the trial. Friday's inspection of the sections by the riders brought about many changes to the hazards with the majority of the competitors agreeing that they were too long, too difficult and dangerous in places. Modifications by the organisers created a far better test, and one that was enjoyed by most riders.

Although Lampkin managed to avoid collecting any fives during the opening part of the first lap as his rivals were failing around him, he himself was unable to keep his feet on the footrests with him losing marks in every section except the first. A maximum in the sixth hazard did little to aid Dougie's possibilities of a strong result at the closing GP, especially as he again dropped marks in all but the final hazard as he worked his way around the relatively compact course.

At the halfway point Lampkin was down in sixth spot and just two marks clear of his season long rival and compatriot James Dabill - Gas Gas. The second lap proved to be equally disappointing for the thirty-four year old campaigner, in conditions that should have suited Dougie well. Three further fives on this lap, and all by section ten meant it was going to be a close finish between him and Dabill.

Summing up his day, Dougie gifted James sixth position as he stalled his factory Beta at the highest point of the final section in front of the large crowd that was watching eagerly down below. This closing mistake put Lampkin level on marks with Dabill, but his younger rival would win the tie break after having recorded far more cleans than Dougie, which was no surprise with the number of dabs the Beta teamster had parted with during the day.

Lampkin had little to say, but showed he had not lost his sense of humour. "It's been a day packed with slack dabs and too many mistakes. Stalling the engine in the last section was the final straw. Although I was not riding well, I thought I had still done enough to keep James at bay, but in the end I must have of felt sorry for him by fiving the last hazard."

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