European Trials Championship - Dabill
Round 5
Myslenice, Poland
 The
European championship has seen James Dabill endure a torrid
campaign to date, but things swung back in the British rider’s
favour earlier today, when a victory put him back at the head
of the overall standings. Dabill trailed his team mate Michael
Brown at the halfway point, but fought back to swap that order
come the close of play.
Brown helped James’ plight by finishing as runner up
and keeping Dabill’s main championship rival Jerome
Bethune down in third place. Coming into this, the penultimate
round in the six event series, Dabill trailed the French rider
by four points, but thanks to a timely win he will now leave
Poland with a slim lead, with just the final round in the
Czech Republic to go next weekend.
Situated thirty kilometres South of the city of Krakow, the
town of Myslenice hosted a difficult trial, with all but the
final section set in dense woodland. Section fifteen was a
man made affair close to the paddock. With temperatures in
the mid thirties for the third weekend running, this added
an additional element, to make it a really tough day all round.
Dabill did little wrong on both laps and built his result
through consistent riding in the slippery hazards. Sections
seven and twelve proved impossible on both visits and quickly
added ten marks to everyone’s score. Apart from these
compulsory maximums, James only incurred two more failures
despite the severe nature of the course in places.
A strong closing lap, only bettered by Daniel Oliveras, gave
Dabill the victory he richly deserved, and a slight advantage
going into next week’s title showdown.
“After last weekend’s fiasco and what has happened
back home with my house, this is a great result and the good
news we were all hoping for. I made a couple of mistakes,
but overall I was more than happy with the way I was riding.”
“Having the lead going to the Czech Republic is a great
mental advantage and one I hope will help me take the title,
although I know it is sure to be a tense and emotionally draining
day.”
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