is being more talked-about than we could all imagine. In addition to the great news that the Lejeune brothers will participate, another historical figure of the Trial is added: Amós Bilbado.
The rider from Lamadrid (Cantabria) has a victory in the SSDT, which he considers one of the most important of his sporting career. Amós Bilbao’s track record includes a Spanish Trial Championship (1996) and three victories in different events of the Trial World Championship.
We leave you with the full press release, provided by G2F.
Text: TW & Jake Miller (G2F) / Photos: Lejeune & Kitchen / Source: G2F Group
With a name like Amos, less knowledgeable fans of the Scottish Six Days Trial (SSDT) could be forgiven for believing that, as an SSDT winner, he could return to Scotland. However, when detailing his full name, Amós Bilbao González, it immediately becomes obvious and evident that the winner of the 2002 SSDT is not exactly Scottish.
Born in Lamadrid, province of Santander, on the north coast of Spain, now 41 years old and a former regular World Championship contender, he has enjoyed a long and popular connection with SSDTs since his debut as a naïve teenager back in 1988.
Amos still has vivid memories of his first encounter with the Scottish Highlands. “It was always my dream to participate in the SSDTs, but my first trip to Fort William turned out to be a bit of a nightmare. I drove my van to Scotland myself, which was already an adventure in itself and then I had to face the great challenge of the test. My English wasn’t good, I didn’t know anyone, and I was basically alone. It was a difficult experience for a young rider and I came home thinking, never again! “
Fortunately, when Amos finally returned to SSDTs in 1999, he was a much more well-rounded and experienced rider. “This time he had a totally different feeling. My English was much better, I had some friends in the UK and the weather was very nice! By then I was at the end of my world championship career and so everything was much more relaxed and I really enjoyed it. Since then, my goal has been to come back every year, but with my work as a Montesa test rider this hasn’t always been possible.”
In 2002 Amos was back in Fort William to score, arguably, one of the most popular victories in the long history of the SSDT. “I won the Spanish championship in 1996 against Jordi Tarrés and Marc Colomer and I also won three World Championship rounds, but I think winning the Scottish was my most important victory and one that I will always remember as a very happy moment for me and Montesa. I think it’s important for me to say thank you and thank the Sandiford family for their support and interest in bringing me to the SSDT, an event that I love.”
This year, Amos will return to Fort William with his family, including his one-year-old son Jon Amos and his wife Mercedes, for a different kind of Scottish experience. “I talk to Dougie (Lampkin) regularly, and he told me how nice it would be to spend the week in Scotland with his family. This will be Jon Amos’ first time travelling on a plane and his first time in the UK, so again it’s a special moment.”
Bilbao goes on to say: “Last year, Jon Amos was born on April 21, so we couldn’t come, but in the future I want to take him many times to the Scottish, and maybe he’ll race him one day as well. My life is busy with family, so I don’t have enough time to do trials right now. I’ll go without any pressure, so I’d like to finish in the top twenty, but if I finish in the top forty I’ll be happy too. My goal is to enjoy trial, spend some time with my friends in the UK, and enjoy the local beer…”
As you know, the 2011 SSDT celebrates the centenary of this trial, which will take place in the surroundings of Fort William between Monday 2 and Saturday 7 May.
More information on the official website: www.ssdt.org.
Lovers of the
Pre-65 category
, which is held in the two days prior to the race, will like this report prepared by Javier Cruz.
