World Trials Championship Round 9 Sant Julia De Loria, Andorra
 James
Dabill’s 2007 FIM SPEA World championship campaign closed
with great disappointment when he recorded his worst finish
of the year at the final round of the series held in Andorra
earlier today. Dabill finished in a lowly eleventh position
as he placed outside of the World’s top ten for the
first time this year. Further misery was added to James’
day as he over taken in the championship standings by season
long rival Marc Freixa.
After having shown so much promise for most of the year,
Dabill unfortunately produced his worst two performances over
the closing two Grand Prix to slip to eighth in the final
championship rankings. Although this is one spot higher than
James finished twelve months ago, it is not the result he
was looking for as he had threaten a top six placing at points
during the six month long campaign.
In practice Dabill had looked very much at home on the steep,
dry and dusty terrain, but was simply unable to replicate
this once the competition proper got underway. Eight maximums
on his first lap brought his total to a hefty forty seven
marks, which was soured further as he incurred an extra seven
marks for running over the immediate time limit.
Things got little better for the twenty one year old from
Leeds on his second and final tour, with nine fives to show
for efforts and an even higher lap total of fifty three marks
this time around. However this was not all James fault, as
he had to ride the last third of the lap with a misfiring
engine after he drowned his bike at one of the few river sections.
With no time to make an effect repair, Dabill rode the last
four hazards not knowing if the bike would stop or go, this
led directly to two fives in the last two sections. This would
push James further down the order on the day, and rob him
of seventh position in the championship.
A distraught Dabill explained. “This is a major disappointment,
not only for me, but also for Jack and the rest of the team.
It really hurts to have had such a bad day at such an important
moment. All the hard work for the rest of the year has been
lost in this one trial.”
“Drowning the bike was the last straw and has put an
end to me taking seventh spot in the series, which ultimately
I would have been happy with. I feel gutted even now, so I
am sure it will feel even worse in the morning when it really
sinks in.”
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