SSDT - Thursday
By John Dickinson on 5th May 17
Dougie Lampkin and the factory Vertigo shrugged off their early start day in the 2017 Scottish Six Days Trial to finish the fourth day still clean on observation, that's an amazing 120 sections without dropping a mark.
As the sun continued to shine in the driest SSDT this century that 11th victory edged closer, as did an unthinkable clean ride through the trial.
Thursday is usually the longest day in terms of mileage and the toughest although the traditional run down Glencoe and then across Rannoch moor before returning to the Fersit group was rested. The route was still the longest day of the 2017 event and took in many of the famous favourite groups like Laggan Locks, Forest Gate, Creag Lundie and Witches Burn. Lampkin's clean ride for the day was matched only by Gas Gas rider Sam Haslam who has now moved up to ninth spot overall.
Jordi Pascuet, also Gas Gas mounted, had a disaster and slipped from second to eighth overall having dropped a costly 10 on the day.
Teenager Jack Price (Gas Gas) continued to impress and moved into a clear second place, just five marks behind Lampkin with two days remaining. Price holds a two-mark gap over Michael Brown on yet another Gas Gas in third place and still in with a shout of picking up the Premier award.
Beta UK's Jack Sheppard remains in fourth position and still right in contention for overall honours while first timer Tom Minta (Gas Gas) sits only one mark back in fifth place. Minta has been a revelation in his SSDT debut. Local hero Gary Macdonald (Scorpa) from Kinlochleven remains in sixth position and the last rider still keeping his weekly tally in single figures.
Sherco factory star Emma Bristow sits just outside the top 30 and is totally dominating the Ladies class from Madrid girl Sandra Gomez and ever cheerful Jess Bown.
Friday sees riders heading off on a 95 mile trek round the Moidart peninsula and remains a favourite with riders and spectators and this year sees the opening group at Doire Damh back on the agenda. Pipers Burn, Roshven, Glenuig and WD's will all be ridden before lunch. Whilst the afternoon run, will see more roadwork than moor but sill including classic groups at Meall Nam Each, Kilmalieu and Rubha Ruadh.
