Battling Brit Dougie Lampkin missed out on a world trials indoor victory on Saturday in the huge Palais de Sports in Marseille by a single penalty point to world indoor champion Adam Raga.

With over six and half thousand voluable French and Spanish supporters urging on the top two riders it was battle of nerves, and Lampkin's held to claim second place and eight championship points, from former champion Albert Cabestany. It was the tightest final so far this season in what was round five of the 12 round series.

The three leaders in the grand final were Lampkin, Raga and Cabestany with fiery Japanese rider Takahisa Fujinami hovering in the wings only to fail sections three and five.

Lampkin led the final after Cabestany failed the opening section then Raga crashed. Lampkin looked set for the victory, then he failed the fourth section. Cabestany lost out on the high jump leaving Lampkin to win the twin lane race. That single point gave the Yorkshireman a vital eight championship points in the series.

Raga has a four point lead in the series and is favourite to win next Sunday night at the Olympic Palace Sant Jordi Stadium in Barcelona.

If Lampkin is to take the title he has to win at least three of the remaining seven events and Raga has to be lower than second in all the rest, a tall order.

Results: Qualification lap - 1, Albert Cabestany (Esp) Beta 6; 2, Takashisa Fujinami (Jpn) Honda 7; 3, Dougie Lampkin (GB) Montesa 11; 4, Adam Raga (Esp) Gas Gas 13; 5, Marc Freixa (Esp) Montesa 19; 6, Graham Jarvis (GB) Sherco 21. Final - 1, Raga 10; 2, Lampkin 11; 3, Cabestany 11; 4, Fujinami 17. Standings: 1, Raga 44; 2, Lampkin 40; 3, Fujinami 32; 4, Cabestany 26; 5, Jarvis 20; 6 Freixa 18.

Joint winners at Richmond

Richmond Motor Club broke the 200 barrier on Sunday at Marske where Dan Thorpe and Ian Austermuhle ran out as joint winners of the first club trial of the season completing the three lap course near the Scott Trial route without a single penalty mark.

Cookridge teenager James Dabill finished third in the expert class on his Lampkin Beta. Roundhay's Dane Sherwin took the Inter class on his Beta machine. Joe Dabill was placed third in the youth category. Mick Grant headed the Pre-65 class from Batley's Richard Thorpe and former speedway ace Eric Boocock.

Organiser Angela Sunter said: "This is the highest ever entry for a trial, an event that does not even carry a title. We have had 208 entries today, from all parts of the north, all Yorkshire, Co Durham, Derbyshire and Cumbria."

Kilnsey trial

Bradford Motor Club enjoyed a mild but sunny day at Kilnsey where 80 riders contested the third club championship trial of the new series.

West Leeds rider Liam Walker took the expert class. Phillip Smith won the clubman class and on the clubman course Burley's Louis Haley won the Class B age group for youths.

Monte Carlo Rally

Sebastian Loeb won the Monte Carlo Rally on Sunday in the icy mountains north of the principality from Ford Castrol Rallye Sport driver Markku Martin and co-driver Michael Park.

For the first time for many years Ilkley's Ford Rallye Sport director of strategy Phil Short watched two of his team mount the Monaco podium and score 14 world points for the Cumbria based team.

Weekend RESULTS

Bradford DMC trial, Kilnsey: Experts - 1 L Walker 6; 2 C Pearson 14; 3 D Farrer 28. Inters - 1 S Inman 32; 2 T Pearson 46; 3 T Wilson 47. Novices - 1 S Calvert 50; 2 J Calvert 51; B Robinson 70. Youth A - 1 L Sampson 30; 2 G Morton 36; 3 S Taylor 42. Clubmen over 40's -1 P Smith 2; 2 B Akrigg 5; 3 I Walker 6. Clubmen - 1 R Sharp 6. 2 M Hancock 9; 3 A Hughes 9. Youth A - 1 R Crosby 7; 2 Laura Threlfall 36. Youth B - 1 L Haley 15; 2 J Woods 15; 3 C Keogh 23.

Richmond DMC trial, Marske. Experts - joint winners: 1, D Thorpe and I Austermuhle 0; 3, James Dabill 8. Inters: 1, D Sherwin 21; 2, M Bayles 25; 3, R Shepherd 27. Novices: 1, N Cannell 25; 2, G Lowther 34; 3, T Hick 43. Youth A: 1, G Kendrew 20; 2, R Ellwood 26; 3, Joe Dabill 73. Clubmen: 1, M Proudlock 23; 2, M Robinson 28; 3, A Thwaite 32. Over 40's: 1, G Porter 4; 2, C Davison 16; 3, S Molloy 19. Pre-65: 1, M Grant 22; 2, R Thorpe 31; 3, E Boocock 32.

Diary Dates

Sunday: Ripon Motor Sports Club, Riponian Rally, Boltby stage opens, 9.30am; Castle Colchester MC national Classic championship, Wakes Colne, 9.30am; Sheffield and Hallamshire MC trial,Berrsytall Lodge, Bradwell, 10.30am; Yeadon-Guiseley MC trial, Keighley Gate, East Morten, 10.30am; Yorkshire Classic MCC Pre-65 trial, Lady Lane, Bingley, 10.30am.