WHO WILL WIN?

from Trial Magazine Issue 98 April-May 2023

DONNA FOX FOXY LADY

It is the million-dollar question we all want the answer to — who will win the 2023 Scottish Six Days Trial? In our reflection article, starting on page 66, the winner in 2003 was the Best Newcomer, a first-time rider, Joan Pons (Sherco-ESP). He was also the last foreign rider to win the event. This year we have the hottest property in both the ACU British Trials and FIM World Trials Championship from Great Britain, Toby Martyn, in the entry for the very first time. Could he cause an upset and win the Best Newcomer award and, with it, the most prestigious of all crowns, the winner of the Scottish Six Days Trial? The capacity class award for the best performance on a machine up to 200cc will be a colossal battle, once again by some of the best riders in more recent times from the UK shores. So back to the question, who will win the 2023 Scottish Six Days Trial? Let’s take a look.

Article: Yoomee

Six days of trials riding over some of the most challenging terrain found anywhere in the

The One To Win

I still see the Scottish Six Days Trial as the one

Toby Martyn winning is possible on paper, but this will be a virgin year, and he will be literally riding into the unknown. Nevertheless, he will be fully prepared physically and mentally. He also has a sound machine in the four-stroke Montesa Honda machine. So if he has a good week, don’t be surprised to see him at the cutting edge of the

Has Dougie Lampkin got another win in him? You bet he has. He made his debut in 1993, where he finished sixth with the Best Newcomer award. He went on to record his first win in 1994. Over the next three decades, he would win another 11 times, making him the most successful rider in the history of the event dating back to 1909. Since 2012 he has dominated the event, apart from the interruption of James Dabill in 2019, and we missed the years 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic. More casual about trials as a rider these days, Dougie Lampkin knows what to do to win, but the lack of competitive riding could be the spoiler.

Challengers

New challengers emerged in Jack Peace and last year’s Best Newcomer Billy Green, who both now have the experience of winning, but what about the old school? As we went to press, we received news that James Dabill, third in the SSDT in 2022, was recovering from a serious hand injury, so we were not sure if he would be starting the event or not.

The evergreen Michael Brown has been second on more than six occasions, and what about Gary MacDonald? He has come so close many times to becoming the first Scottish winner since Bob McGregor in 1953.

Other recent winners entering the SSDT in 2023 include Amos Bilbao, who won in 2002, Sam Connor in

2005 and Alexz Wigg in 2010; expect them all to show flashes of brilliance.

Can Scotland’s new hope Ben Dignan (Montesa) raise his game in his first SSDT? Make sure you keep an eye on the ‘Up to 200cc’ class; it will be exciting.

Four first-time riders include the 2022 FIM Trial125 World Champion Harry Hemingway (Beta), who will be joined by Jack Dance (GASGAS), Jamie Galloway (TRRS) and Alfie Lampkin (Vertigo). Throw in some good UK national runners, and you can guarantee a good week of action.

The SSDT has seen so many records set, but in 2023 you will see one that will never be beaten — at the ripe old age of 69, Nigel Birkett rides in his 50th SSDT. I raise my hat to the man; he is some rider — it is called respect.

2022 Ssdt Results

SPECIAL FIRST CLASS AWARDS: 1: Dougie Lampkin (Vertigo) 8; 2: Michael Brown (Sherco) 14; 3: James Dabill (Beta) 15; 4: Jack Peace (Sherco) 17; 5: Richard Sadler (Vertigo) 23; 6: Billy Green (Scorpa) 27; 7: Dan Peace (Sherco) 29; 8: Sam Haslam (GASGAS) 30; 9: Ross Danby (TRRS) 30; 10: Tom Minta (Scorpa) 33; 11: Dan Thorpe (GASGAS) 34; 12: Guy Kendrew (Beta) 34; 13: Andy Chilton (Scorpa) 34; 14: Sam Connor (Beta) 37; 15: Ben Hemingway (Beta) 39; 16: Duncan MacColl (Beta) 40; 17: Alexz Wigg (Vertigo) 41; 18: Jack Challoner (Montesa) 45; 19: Gael Chatagno (Electric Motion-FRA) 51; 20: Benoit Dagnicourt (Vertigo-FRA) 54.