Dabill Gets Vertigo Off To Perfect British Championship Start

Reigning and six time British Trials Champion James Dabill celebrated his thirtieth birthday in style as he made it two wins from two starts at the opening weekend of the 2016 domestic series. The two days of competition were held in the beautiful Lake District situated in the north of England, with the three laps of twelve sections on each day making the very best of typically natural British terrain. 

Fresh from his podium placing at last weekend's first round of the 2016 FIM Trial World Championship held in Cal Rosal, Spain Dabill absolutely confirmed his superiority over his domestic rivals during Saturday's event as he beat eventual runner-up Ross Danby by a massive thirty-three marks. In truth James' first victory of the new campaign was never in doubt from the first lap as he immediately rode clear of the field with an opening score of thirteen marks which was already sixteen better than that recorded by nearest challenger Danby over the same period.

Showing the true potential of his fuel injected two stroke powered Combat in the flowing river sections and on the slippery bankings, Dabill looked very much at home as he increased his winning margin lap on lap with two further lap scores of ten and fourteen marks respectively to easily secure Saturday's win and claim his first maximum points in the general standings. 

With no one able to match James' level of riding and Saturday's trial proving a tough test for the remaining title challengers, the organisers made changes to the sections overnight to reveal a much less severe and drier course for the second day of competition on Sunday. The reduced severity almost proved to be Dabill's undoing as he trailed surprise intermediate leader Jack Sheppard by seven marks after the initial two laps. 

Sensing that Sheppard was on the verge of spoiling his thirtieth birthday celebrations, James showed what he and his Combat were really capable of as the pairing completed the final twelve sections on Sunday totally unpenalised to snatch his second win of the weekend this time by less but still an impressive six marks given the circumstances. Dabill's back to back wins means that he has already opened up a healthy twelve-point lead at the head of the championship standings after the first two of eleven counting events. 

Speaking afterwards a delighted Dabill said. "Two wins in two days is the perfect way to get my title defence started, and the fact the second came on my thirtieth birthday makes the whole weekend that bit sweeter to. Saturday's trial really suited me, and I was able to pick up from where I left off in Spain, so I dominated it from start to finish. Sunday was a bit trickier as the easier sections and drier conditions meant it was more of a level playing field. Sheppard must have ridden well earlier on, as I made no real big mistakes. Once I knew he was in front I made an extra effort on the last lap as there was no way I wanted him to spoil my birthday. Anyway it paid off, and with two wins I have now also got a nice lead in the general standings too." 

Dabill will now turn his attention along with other members of the factory Vertigo team to the second round of the 2016 FIM Trial World Championship which will take place in Motegi, Japan this coming weekend.