World Outdoor Trials Championship Mortagua, Portugal
 After
just two rounds of the 2006 World outdoor series James Dabill
finds himself amongst the planet’s most elite riders,
thanks to a career best seventh place at today’s Portuguese
Grand Prix. James’ pair of opening results sees him
holding ninth place in the World championship, to add to the
lead he now holds in the European series.
Disappointed at his showing at the first round in Spain last
weekend, James arrived in Portugal with a point to prove to
himself. His win at European level yesterday put him in a
confident frame of mind ready for today’s tougher test.
With a starting time right in the middle of the main group
of top riders, James was totally unphased as he notched several
good rides in front of names that were his heroes not so long
ago. Only two fives during the latter part of the first lap
spoiled what otherwise was a near perfect performance for
the teenager from Leeds.
Joint seventh at the halfway stage, Dabill closed with an
even stronger showing improving his lap score by five marks
during his second visit to the now wet hazards as the rain
that had threatened all day finally arrived. As his rivals
fell away, James deservedly netted seventh place come the
finish.
“This is a great result, my best ever in fact and is
a marked improvement compared to how I rode in Spain. As yesterday,
it has been a case of finding my feet at the first round and
using that as a starting point. I was a
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