LAMPKIN BACK IN ACTION
MANCHESTER, GREAT BRITAIN
MONDAY 19/09/11
Long serving Red Bull athlete and twelve times FIM Trial World Champion Dougie Lampkin and Gas Gas made a welcome return to the international trials stage at the FIM Trial des Nations (TDN) hosted in Italy. Having missed much of this season due to an ongoing ankle injury, which was originally sustained back in early May, Dougie was delighted to be back in action as a member of the British team.
The Gas Gas factory rider joined compatriots Michael Brown, James Dabill and Jack Challoner at the twenty-eighth edition of this prestigious team competition situated in the Italian mountains close to the Austrian border. Having already been a winning team member on no less than four previous occasions, the last time back in 2003, Lampkin remains an important part of the British squad thanks to his vast TDN experience.
Dougie arrived in Tolmezzo, Italy having travelled via Barcelona where he had taken part in the official launch of the 2012 Gas Gas enduro range last Thursday evening. With his current trials' campaign almost over, Lampkin will soon turn his attention to his enduro riding with him due to participate in several extreme events and the FIM Indoor Enduro World Championship over the coming winter months.
Despite having only spent limited time on his trials bike this year due to his injured ankle, Dougie soon looked back at home in the almost British type going as heavy rain made for a muddy competition in Italy. Although unable to challenge the dominant winning Spanish squad, Lampkin and his countrymen could be satisfied as they finished as runners-up once again and ahead of the host nation.
Even at this stage in his long and successful career, Dougie's schedule continues to be as busy as ever with the trials legend's services still being in great demand. After a brief return to the UK, the veteran campaigner will then head back out to Austria for this weekend's Red Bull - Festival of Trial, where he will be joined by his Gas Gas factory team-mate Adam Raga plus other international riders.
With the month of October approaching fast, Dougie will then switch his attentions to preparing for the World famous Scott - time and observation - trial, which remains one of his favourite events in the calendar each year. Lampkin will be hoping to return to his winning ways, after bike problems have thwarted his more recent efforts to add to the three victories he already has at this ultimate test of man and machine.
Commenting on his return to action Dougie said. "It felt good to be back riding again at a competitive event as it has been a frustrating season. Our result was pretty much as we expected, but it was still important to beat the Italians on their home soil. I am looking forward to the Festival of Trial this weekend. Last year was my first time at this event, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Then it will be that time of year again where the Scott trial takes over your life. I just hope my run of bad luck at this event is at an end, as I would like to win it one more time at least."
