European Trials Championship
Round 6 – 16/07/06
Tanval, Czech Republic
Twenty-year-old James Dabill produced the ride of his life
earlier today, to snatch the European championship at a dramatic
last round show down. Leading the series by just a single
point going to Tanval in the Czech Republic, Dabill soaked
up the pressure with a performance packed with maturity beyond
his years to take the most important victory of his career
to date, and with it the European title.
A bad result in France and some bad luck at the Italian round
had put James on the back foot as he dropped to second in
the overall standings, but a win at the penultimate round
in Poland and today’s victory in the Czech Republic
has given Dabill the crown that he richly deserves.
Dabill is no stranger to success with a glittering array
of British youth titles already to his name, however his first
international recognition came last year when he took the
World Junior championship after having dominated the category
for the entire season.
In a trial packed with man made dry rock sections James took
control of his own destiny right from the start, by leading
at the end of the first lap on a total of eleven marks despite
two maximums. Then holding his nerve Dabill put in fantastic
closing performance to complete the second lap for the loss
of just five marks, to take the all important win to confirm
the championship. James’ main rival, French rider Jerome
Bethune could only manage sixth place on the day as he failed
to cope with the pressure of the occasion.
Dabill, who lost his family home through fire after lightning
struck his house in Leeds earlier this month, was understandably
emotional about his latest achievement.
“Words can’t describe just how I feel at the
moment, as it has been one hell of a month. After all the
bad luck that has happened recently, this is an amazing day
for me.”
“I can’t thank my family, sponsors and especially
the Top Trial Team enough, because without everyone’s
support this would not have been possible.”
|
