Reigning European and 2005 World Junior trials champion James Dabill is delighted to announce that he has recently agreed terms to ride for the Italian based Future TRW trial racing team during 2007. Ranked ninth in the World in his first full season at the highest level of the sport, the twenty year old from Leeds, West Yorkshire will campaign a specially prepared Montesa Cota 4RT for the official HM supported squad, with the World championship and the Italian domestic series being at the top of James' priority list in 2007.
Outside of the official Montesa HRC factory squad, the Future TRW trial racing team is the most important and professional set up on the international circuit, with a competition budget approaching half a million euros. No less than thirty one riders across all levels are supported by a staff that includes four race managers, two office managers, seven mechanics, nine assistants and four team trucks, including a new semi trailer that incorporates both workshop and hospitality facilities. TRW Automotive achieved global sales in excess of twelve billion US dollars in 2005 and is amongst the top ten largest automotive suppliers in the World through its distribution of safety related products and systems.
The highly regarded satellite Montesa team will continue to benefit from their widely respected development rider and ex vice World champion Diego Bosis who has been key to the evolution of the team's latest machine on which Dabill will be mounted throughout next year. The young British rider will join Tsuyoshi Ogawa, the Japanese pilot having been the team's sole regular World championship contender during this season. The large squad already includes 2006 Italian champion Fabio Lenzi and will support two riders in the World Junior category during 2007.
Dabill will join the rest of the team at their Bergamo head quarters for an intense Winter training programme that will include a specifically created physical exercise schedule, which will be overseen by the squad's dedicated trainer. Both the riders and the team's technicians, to ensure the new model bike is tested on several different terrain types, will visit various European locations during the pre season period.
In addition to competing in both the World and Italian championships, James will also ride under the James Sandiford banner back in the UK. Dabill will compete in selected rounds of the British series when other commitments allow, plus the Scottish six-day trial, the Scott time and observation event and other national competitions.
Continuing with the Italian theme James has also agreed terms to use Alpinestars footwear for both the 2007 and 2008 seasons, Dabill joins multi World champion Dougie Lampkin as part of the global brand's trials team and will use their no stop boot for all competitions.
James would also like to use this opportunity to express his most sincere thanks to the Top Trial Team, Beta and John Lampkin with whom he has enjoyed a very special relationship and with whom he achieved both the World Junior and European titles over the last two years. Dabill will make his last competitive appearance on a Beta at the Sheffield indoor trial on 29th December 2006 before immediately moving to the Montesa in the New Year.
Commenting on the pending move Dabill commented. "This is a massive opportunity for me. The Future TRW Montesa team has all the resources available to help take me to the next level. Their commitment is second to none, so I really want to repay the faith they have shown in me by giving them the results I know we can achieve together. I am really looking forward to making the trip out to Italy early in the New Year and riding the bike. From what I have seen to date, their 2007 spec bike is an awesome bit of kit and has plenty of power for the World championship type sections. I know it is going to take a bit of time to adjust to the four stroke, but I am really excited by the challenge. 2007 can't come quick enough."
