Silsden superstar Dougie Lampkin continued his magical relationship with the world-famous Scottish Six Days Trial (SSDT), having taken victory at the historic event on Saturday for a record-extending 14th time.

Now 47, Lampkin first won the SSDT back in 1994 and has enjoyed a special association with the competition ever since, despite being absent during the height of his World Championship winning years due to a hectic schedule. 

Nowadays, Lampkin rides in very few competitions himself, with his time now often spent supporting his two sons on their own motorcycling journeys.

His youngest, Frasier, is already making a name for himself on the enduro scene, whilst his eldest, Alfie, is starting to carve out his own career in the world of trial biking.

With 17-year-old Alfie making his SSDT debut on board a 125cc machine this year, 2023 was always going to be a memorable Scottish for his dad, irrespective of his own performance, as he shared a week in the Highlands with his first child. 

Having now had a couple of days to reflect on his latest achievement in a career that has stretched more than thirty years, veteran rider Lampkin explained what his latest SSDT success meant to him.

He said: “This year’s SSDT was always going to be different for a few reasons.

“Obviously, the biggest change for me was having Alfie ride with me, as normally I just take care of myself and don’t have to worry about anyone else.

“Also, the lead up to the event was different too as I had done nowhere near the same amount of riding beforehand because of being at British and World trials with Alfie over the previous few months.” 

“Heading up to Fort William, I wasn’t too sure of where I was up to riding-wise.

“On the few times I had been on the bike I had felt okay, but having seen the likes of Billy Green and Jack Peace riding in Spain and Portugal just before the SSDT, I knew their level was very good.”

That does not mean Lampkin saw himself as an underdog, admitting: “I am a Lampkin, so I’d be lying if I said I didn’t think I might be able to win the Scottish again before I set off on the first day, but I knew the Monday was going to be important and would show if I was able to be in the mix or not.

“Before the trial started, I would have settled for a decent result and to make sure Alfie made it to the finish, though once the flag dropped it’s hard not to think about anything but winning.

“The week was pretty much drama free apart from a small mechanical issue going into the last day, which I managed to sort.

“It was a strange week compared to normal due to the new routes.

“There were some great new sections, but most of the other ones were very familiar to me, and that’s where my experience started to count.

“Alfie rode out of his skin all week too with some great rides, and his result could have been even better if it wasn’t for a lack of power in some places, as he’s a big lad to be riding a 125.

“To finish inside the top thirty on his debut and beat (eight-time Women’s World Trials Champion) Emma Bristow is excellent.”