Twenty-nine-year-old James Dabill – Vertigo heads to his home Grand Prix this weekend, which marks round four of the 2015 FIM Trial World Championship, looking for some more success on home soil. To date Dabill’s only ever podium finish in the World Pro class came at the Penrith venue, that will again host the British GP this weekend, back in 2012 when he placed third on the second day of his home competition. Much has changed for the now five times national champion since that fondly remembered day, with James now a father of one son Alfie and with a second child on the way, not to mention his change of teams over the winter period.
Dabill’s appearance in front of his home fans this weekend will have added significance as he makes his debut at a British GP on the all-new Vertigo Combat machine. Under the ever-watchful eye of Vertigo Sport Team Manger and ex FIM Trial World Champion Dougie Lampkin, James has made good progress on the prototype Spanish bike since breaking cover in the FIM X-Trial Championship earlier this year. Continuing to develop the bike whilst trying to achieve respectable results is a tough challenge, though is one that the reigning British champion is enjoying and is a task that he fully expected when he signed for Vertigo as he explained ahead of his home GP.
“There is nothing better than riding at home and in front of the British fans. Making my debut for Vertigo at the first round of the 2015 FIM X-Trial World Championship at Sheffield was really a good test for my nerves, but immediately I rode out into the arena the crowd got behind me and cheered me through each section. Although the result on the night wasn’t as good as I had hoped for, their support was amazing and I am sure it will be the same this weekend.”
“When I first spoke to Dougie (Lampkin) about signing for Vertigo he made it clear it wasn’t going to be easy this year. However once I met the team and knew Dougie would be in my corner it was an opportunity I wasn’t going to miss. The workload has been massive, I spent most of the first three months living in Spain and testing nearly every day in between X-Trial events. It has been tough and there have been some ups and downs, but no more than I expected. Thankfully all the hard work by the whole team is now paying off and the results are starting to come. Winning the first two rounds of the British championship was a big turning point.”
“I rode Beta for a lot of years, so I am still adapting to the Vertigo, but it is great to have a bike that is being developed around me. The first GP in Japan was a struggle as we only had limited resources available to us, which caused a problem with getting the bike set up properly. Anyway we managed to get through that weekend and then when we got back to Europe for the second round in the Czech Republic with the full set up things were much better.”
“Leading the Trial on the first lap in Sokolov and still being in second place come the end of lap two shows just how far we have come as a team and the true potential of me and the bike. Unfortunately a bad last lap pushed me off the podium, although fifth place was still a good result at this early stage of the project.”
“I am sure there will be huge interest in the Vertigo in Penrith, as for many people it will be the first time they have seen it in action. It’s a venue I quite like and was where I got my best ever result back in 2012. It will be a tough ask and I will be doing everything possible to make it on to the podium again, as there was no better feeling than standing up there in front of all those home fans.”