Today saw the annual gathering of the riders for the new season family photo ahead of the 2016 FIM Trial World Championship opening in Cal Rosal, Spain tomorrow for the first of two days of competition. With the sun shining brightly overhead, a total of sixty-one riders were present across the three main classes: Twenty-three making up the TrialGP category, thirty in the Trial2 division and eight young hopefuls filling the ranks of the Trial125 group.
The riders were joined by other representatives of the paddock as collectively they recognised a minute’s applause in respect of the recent passing of a great Trial family member and the first ever FIM Trial World Champion (1975), Martin Lampkin who sadly lost his year plus battle with illness. The riders wore special commemorative metal pendants in honour of the late champion while the reigning FIM Trial World Champion Toni Bou – Repsol Honda led the tribute as he proudly held a photo of Martin aloft in front of the gathered audience.
Leading TrialGP rider Albert Cabestany had some kind words to say about Martin Lampkin. “It is so to hear this bad news. I met Martin as ‘the minder’ when I joined the FIM Trial World Championship twenty years ago when he came with his son, Dougie. Obviously this was his second career after being one of the best riders ever. All my thoughts are with Dougie and his family in this difficult moment. RIP Martin.”
FIM Communications