SSDT Day Three: Lampkin Takes Control

Dougie Lampkin - Beta signalled his intent to take a record breaking sixth win as he took over the lead of the 2011 Scottish Six Days Trial (SSDT) as the centenary event reached the halfway stage. Thirty-five year old Dougie from Silsden, West Yorkshire dropped one mark in today's thirty sections to move to the head of the standings, as Tuesday's leader Michael Brown - Gas Gas endured his worst day thus far and fell back to fifth place overall. A soft five at the last section at Annatt cost Brown dearly as he dropped six marks on day three.

Things could not be tighter at the top, with Lampkin only having a slim advantage over James Dabill - Beta who rode himself back into contention with a single dab performance on the third of six days. The 2007 winner lost his only mark at Loch Shiel B post the lunch stop. Lampkin and Dabill are now closely followed by Graham Jarvis - Montesa who sits on seven marks in total after he parted with just a single mark in the difficult opening section at Inversanda. Last year's victor Alexz Wigg - Sherco went unpenalised today and now holds fourth spot on the same marks as Brown and Gary MacDonald - Gas Gas.

MacDonald kept his dream alive of becoming only the second ever Scottish rider to win this epic six day adventure, as he went clean on day three. Bob McGregor is Scotland's lone winner of the SSDT to date, his two successes being recorded way back in the 1930's, so a home win is long overdue. Gary currently sits in sixth position, but only four marks off the lead. A mere three marks then separates the next four riders, one mark between each, who complete the overall top ten. Ben Hemingway - Beta, Dan Thorpe - Gas Gas who also went clean today, Ian Austermuhle - Beta and James Lampkin - Beta are certainly a quartet locked in battle.

Two hundred and fifty two of the original two hundred and seventy six riders who started remain classified at the mid point in the competition with the warm weather and dry going being kind to both the entrants and their bikes. The three women riders who began the week are all still going, with Emma Bristow - Ossa continuing to extend her lead in the female category and sits well inside the top one hundred overall. Spain's Alfredo Gomez - Montesa remains as the best newcomer, just five marks ahead of Jack Sheppard - Beta. In the over 40 class John Shirt - Gas Gas currently leads ex SSDT winner Amos Bilbao - Montesa by three marks.

At one hundred and twenty miles, tomorrow's route is the longest of the week, and if history is anything to go by, then Thursday is often a defining day in deciding the eventual winner of the SSDT. The next three days are beautifully poised to create a dramatic and close finale to the one hundredth edition of this World famous event.

Keep up to date with the latest news at www.ssdt.org

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