He's a man who doesn't like losing so Dougie Lampkin will be all out to secure his twelfth SSDTMore than one hundred years after the initial running of the Scottish Six Days Trial (SSDT), the event continues to have huge global appeal with an almost three hundred strong entry and once again being heavily over-subscribed. The 2018 edition of this historic competition, which will take place from its now established base in Fort William, starting Monday 7th May through to Saturday 12th May inclusive, will include a total of two hundred and eighty-two riders representing eighteen different nations.
Lieutenant Colonel Mike Tizard will have the honour of waving away the riders on their almost week-long challenge in the Scottish Highlands, with his presence marking the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Army providing the vital refuelling service, without which the event simply could not run. SSDT organisers, the Edinburgh and District Motor Club will again welcome riders from as far afield as Australia, New Zealand, Costa Rica and the USA alongside competitors from Holland, Spain, Italy, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Belgium, France and Germany plus a strong contingent from the home nations. View the full entry list here.
World renowned Trials photographer, Eric Kitchen will be the club's guest of honour at the Awards Ceremony on Saturday evening, 12th May and will be bestowed with the special task of presenting the awards to all the finishers and the eventual winner of the 2018 SSDT. With already eleven victories to his name, which is six more than previous record holders Sammy Miller and Mick Andrews, Dougie Lampkin will start the week as the favourite to lift the famous trophy once again, but he will be only too aware that it will be no easy feat to repeat his previous successes in what remains the ultimate test of man and machine.
After a storming ride to finish second in 2017, can Jack Price go one better?Lining up beside Lampkin and the other potential front runners, for the first time ever in the long history of the SSDT will be two relay teams - riding with numbers 100 and 200 respectively. Taking it in turns to share the burden of six of the toughest days of motorcycle competition - the three and two member teams will each raise a minimum of one thousand pounds - with the resulting proceeds being shared between a charity of the team's choice plus two local charities - those being Lochaber mountain rescue and Glencoe mountain rescue. This relay scheme will be evaluated post event for potential inclusion in future events.
Amazing scenery, unequalled terrain, the opportunity to share six days of incredible riding with friends and rivals, and the chance for amateur riders to compete over the exact same course as their professional counterparts all adds up to continue to make the SSDT the single most important event in the international Trials calendar more than a century after it was first run.
Taking place on the days just prior to the main 2018 Scottish Six Days Trial, the hugely popular Pre-65 Scottish Trial will open proceedings as it follows its now traditional format in and around Kinlochleven on Friday 4th / Saturday 5th May, before the focus switches to Fort William town centre for the opening parade on Sunday 6th May at 3pm.
Daily spectator routes / maps and a full rider entry list can be found in the official SSDT Programme - now on sale at these outlets in the Fort William area.