Rosey for Dabill's debut
By John Watson on 16th Feb 07
JAMES Dabill won the National Colonial Trial at Rosedale, East Yorks, on Sunday - against all odds. But it was a gamble that paid handsome dividends for the 20-year-old from Cookridge, Leeds.
JAMES Dabill won the National Colonial Trial at Rosedale, East Yorks, on Sunday - against all odds. But it was a gamble that paid handsome dividends for the 20-year-old from Cookridge, Leeds.
His business manager Jake Miller decided that James would ride the 300cc Future TRW four-stroke Montesa competitively for the first time in the National trial, an event that contained just about all the cream of British trials talent. After switching to the TRW Montesa on New Year's Day the decision to practice, and not compete, until last Sunday, and also to choose a National trial with a fearsome reputation was thought by many pundits to be foolhardy. But Dabill delivered - and he did it his way!
The second major shock of the day was the ride by World Junior Champion Alexz Wigg, who finished in a well-earned second place on his screaming little 125 Gas Gas to defeat local ace Ian Austermuhle. It was certainly a day to remember in Colonial Trial history, as Dabill repeated his 2006 victory, achieved on a two-stroke Beta.
NATIONAL COLONIAL TRIAL
The Caravan Park, Rosedale, near Pickering
(Eboracum MC)
Expert: James Dabill (TRW Montesa) Lap One 13 + Lap Two 4 = Total 17 marks lost, Alexz Wigg (Gas Gas) 24+6=30 (mc), Ian Austermuhle (Repsol Beta) 17+13=30, Michael Brown (Repsol Beta) 16+19=35, Sam Ludgate (Repsol Beta) 19+18=37, Dan Thorpe (Gas Gas) 17+21=38.
Intermediate: Roger Williams (Gas Gas) 17+19=36, Mark Harrison (Montesa) 33+32=54, Shaughan Galway (Beta) 33+22=55, Adam Milner (Beta) 25+34=59, Paul Bennett (Sherco) 32+35=67, Stuart Woodfield (Sherco) 31+38=69.
Clubman: Mick Platts (Sherco) 20+11=31, Paul Sadler (Beta) 28+15=43, Rob Hardisty (Beta) 22+30=52, Mark Smith (Montesa) 27+28=55, Katy Sunter (Gas Gas) 23+24 (+9 time) = 55, Paul Wilson (Montesa) 33+23=56, Ian Myers (Sherco) 22+35=57, Andrew Keel (Beta) 36+25=61, Mark Summer (Beta) 33+30=63, Ian Waddington (Beta) 34+29=63.
For full report, results and pictures see T+MX NEWS, Friday, February 16, 2007