World Trial World Championship 2007
 James
Dabill finished a nail-biting second day of competition at
the Twin Ring Motegi circuit north of Tokyo, Japan in eighth
place. However, the result did not justify his riding, as
he was a tantalising seven marks away from a career-best fifth
place, which he felt should have been within his grasp.
The competition on the second of the two days of action at
the purpose-built motorsport complex was even more intense
than the first. James recorded an identical score on his first
lap to that of the first lap on day one – thirty-three
marks. However, his second lap was ten marks better than the
previous day, bringing his total to fifty-nine.
Despite this, James was not entirely pleased with his day’s
work, coming so close to fifth place and feeling that he should
have been able to take the result. He admitted to several
mistakes and subsequent marks that he should have avoided,
including a pair of fives, one on section eleven, a climb
up a cliff face and one on section thirteen, a man-made section.
Here, like other riders, he spun his rear tyre to clear mud
and water from it for grip to launch up a huge boulder. However,
he actually spun the tyre on a patch of mud, cancelling out
the cleaning effect and losing the grip he was looking for.
As a result, he was unable to get to the top of the boulder
and picked up five marks.
He also had a problem with the rocky waterfall hazard, section
nine, which he five’d on the first lap as his minder
had to pull him up and picked up two dabs on the second time
round.
James was clearly disappointed at coming so close to a career-best,
but then seeing it disappear. “Today was a tough day
and I have to say, a bit of a shame. I felt my riding was
actually better than the result demonstrates. To be that close
to fifth place, but not actually be able to take it was very
frustrating.”
“I’m disappointed with some of the mistakes I
made today. Without them, I would have been in a better position
and could have improved the result. Without one of the fives
and a couple of marks I picked up in another section, I would
have taken fifth. But again, sometimes that’s how it
goes.”
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