Competing in the WTC is no small undertaking, and if you live on the other side of the world - Australia - the exercise can seem daunting enough to be impossible. If that is you, then read on...
Ex World championship-winning minder James Lampkin made an important return to the series this season alongside Jack Sheppard, and is now poised to offer other young riders the chance to reach the top.
Winning pedigree
Mention the name Lampkin and you automatically associate it both with the sport of trials and with winning. This is the same case when you mention the name James Lampkin (aka Jim), cousin of Dougie who was very much a part of the successful team that netted no less than twelve FIM World titles over an amazing seven year run.
Being a part of one of the World’s most famous motorcycling families could be a daunting proposition for some, although for thirty-four year old James Lampkin it is one that he has relished and embraced in a way that has earned him respect and recognition within the trials paddock.
James is the youngest of Alan (aka Sid) Lampkin’s three children – with him having been brought up alongside his two older sisters Sarah and Nina, and amongst a family where a winning mentality is equally as important as a solid education.
Sid was one of a trio of Lampkin brothers, the others being Martin and Arthur, who helped cement the Lampkin family name in the history books during the sixties and seventies as they raced and rode to many victories both in motocross (or scrambling as it was then known) and trials in the UK and abroad. James’ father’s biggest win came in 1966 when he won the Scottish Six Days Trial (SSDT) against a star-studded entry.
Jim himself was soon adopted into the trials fold and was riding local events before he was even ten years old prior to advancing to national level where he enjoyed relative success as he developed his own liking for a sport that had been passed down from his father. During the same period James’ older cousin Dougie was beginning to make his own mark on the sport and was progressing strongly through the youth ranks, already his eventual level of success was far from guaranteed or clear to see at this time.
By the time James and Dougie moved to the adult scene it was clear to see that Dougie’s talent was starting to stand out and by 1996 James was recruited to the team as his cousin went in search of World success. James’ minding career started with a three round test in ’96 before he took up a full time role the following season. The addition of James to Dougie’s set up proved to be an inspired and important decision with the relatively young Lampkin pairing lifting their first World title in 1997.
This initial success was to be the start of a special relationship that saw James play a key role in guiding Dougie to six more outdoor World titles and five indoor world crowns over a seven year period when team Lampkin dominated the sport of trials. James continued his work as a World championship minder and perhaps the best in the business at that time, right through to when Dougie finally conceded his crown to Takahisa Fujinami in 2004. This provided the perfect moment for Jim to step down from the constant travelling and to concentrate on matters closer to home.
2005 saw James marry his long time girlfriend Sarah and set up his own property maintenance company, which has flourished over the last seven years into a very successful business in its own right. During the same period Sarah and James have welcomed two new members to their own family team in the form of their two sons William aged six and Max aged three, who are both already following in the Lampkin wheel tracks on their electric trials bikes.
Jim made a brief return to the World scene in 2006, and fittingly was present when Dougie recorded his last ever Grand Prix win at the French round that season. However that was to be Jim’s final foreign foray for a few years as he returned to riding trials back in the UK and with a good level of his own success. James secured the British Expert Trials Championship on three separate occasions in addition to finishing third at the SSDT and World famous Scott trial to confirm his own trials pedigree. Although no longer riding on a regular basis Jim continues to compete both in the SSDT and the Scott on an annual basis, however these days it is more for pleasure rather than for results.
Although having been absent from the World championship for a few years, James’ interest in the sport or his desire for success has never waned, so it did not take a lot to persuade him to come out of retirement when 2011 Youth World champion Jack Sheppard came knocking on his door. Whilst Sheppard’s on going wrist injury has prevented the new partnership realising its real and full potential, it’s clearly evident that Jim has brought a bag full of experience back to the World scene with him. Time back in the paddock during the 2012 season also brought other things to Jim’s attention, as he spent time with the younger riders and next generation of champions.
Trials-Pro
James picks up the story. “I really enjoyed being back and a part of the trials World championship this year and realised just how much I missed being involved in helping riders to succeed. It is a difficult road to the top even when you have got the right people around you, but it is almost impossible for young riders to succeed unless they have access to the right advice.”
“I learnt so much working alongside Dougie during those championship winning years and being part of the Beta and Montesa factory teams. Although I have been away from the World championship for a few years the fundamentals have not changed, and I realised that I have not forgot all that I have learned and that I am in a fortunate position to be able to share that knowledge and experience with the younger riders like I have done with Jack this season.”
“We all know how difficult and expensive it is for young riders to get to the World championship these days and we cannot ignore this, as they are the future of our sport. I know that some of the Federations are helping some of the young riders in this way, though in reality this is only for the elite few.”
“My idea is to offer a factory like level of service and set-up, along with the experience I have gained over many years to a number of young riders irrespective of their nationality at an affordable and fixed price. Trials-Pro is a new concept that will hopefully make it easier for the younger riders to work their way up the ladder.”
“The package is flexible and allows riders the choice to either provide their own bikes or hire any make of bike via Trials-Pro. We will then take their bikes to all rounds of the series, including Japan and America if they wish, and will provide them with a professional set up and support when they arrive at each round. We will also be on hand to pass on advice and to generally point them in the right direction.”
“It would be nice to think that in the future that one of the young riders who signs up to be part of Trials-Pro becomes a World Champion in years to come and that we have been part of that success in the same way as when I worked with Dougie. That said not every rider can be a World champion, so all levels of riders will be welcome at Trials-Pro.”
“For 2013 we are looking at taking a maximum of six riders to the World championship, with this being the first year of the project and already two out of the six places have been reserved, so anyone who is interested in taking advantage of this new service should contact us sooner rather than later.”
Please contact James Lampkin +44 7803 151896 / [email protected] for more details.
Meet the Lampkins
With so many members of the Lampkin family involved in trials, here is your quick guide to who is who in their family tree.
Arthur Lampkin – Three sons John, Steve and David.
Martin Lampkin – Two sons Dougie and Harry.
Alan (aka Sid) – One son James (aka Jim).
Between them they hold thirteen World championships, eleven SSDT wins, and nine Scott trial victories.