Post the last-ever DL12 Indoor Trial, 12-time world champion Dougie Lampkin has penned an open letter sharing his thoughts and hinting at what’s next:
With the dust having now settled after the final DL12 Indoor Trial and having received so many messages and questions asking why such a great event has sadly come to an end, it would be a good moment to share the truth with you all.
Part of our problem was getting a date at the arena next year. Although some options could have worked, we simply can’t risk having a World Championship event on the same date or on the same weekend again.
We asked the ACU for their help, but they did completely the opposite and strangled us. They were aware that our indoor and outdoor plans were financially linked. Plus, we presented them with a solid three-year plan that is unheard of in the current economic climate, and they strangely rejected it.
The ACU also know that we must book and sign contracts with any arena in the UK at least 12 months, but more like 18 months in advance, to stand any chance of getting a date that will work, which is what we have done for the last three years. But the problem is that the World Championship dates are never announced until a maximum of three months prior to the opening round, and as we are not part of the series, we are under attack. This year, they initially planned an event on the same date as us before finally moving it to the day before, but the ACU did nothing to try and protect our event.
On Saturday morning, we had to pray that the flight from Lyon with Bou, Busto, Marcelli, and Raga would fly. It was delayed for over an hour due to fog, but it did eventually take off, and our four biggest named riders arrived just in time for our event. Can you imagine the fallout and refunds we would have had to deal with if those guys hadn’t arrived? We can’t keep risking the quarter of a million pounds that we have invested into the event each year now to lose out through something we are not in control of.
My dad and his business partner have run Sheffield Indoor for 25 years, and Jake and my dad have run over 90% of the outdoor TrialGP events in the UK over the last 20 years, not to mention my own achievements – sporting and otherwise – so you would hope that the ACU would have some respect for what we are continuing to do for the sport. Not only are we still running events, but we are also now running what are seen as the best events of their kind in the world.
When we first met with Tim Lightfoot [the new ACU Chairman], we really thought he was going to support us, but in reality, he has shown us nothing but disrespect and has actually become one of the main reasons that we have no confidence moving forward under the ACU banner despite having run every event we have ever done for the last 25 years with the ACU. We have even attended a mediation meeting at Rugby; however, we still haven’t found a way forward, and he has even tried to block our future event by being resistant to issuing the requested permit.
It’s going to be interesting to see how things pan out. The ACU have made their choice, and over the coming years, UK trials fans can judge for themselves if it was the right one or not.
We have done our bit for trial and will continue to do so, with or without the support of the ACU. It’s a shame it’s come to this, but it has, unfortunately.
The good news is that we continue to have great support from all our partners, the media, the riders, the industry, and the fans who buy tickets. That’s why we are already planning what will replace the DL12 Indoor Trial in the future.
Dougie Lampkin MBE – 12 x World Champion
In a statement the ACU said: “The ACU was sorry to read Dougie’s open letter and has taken some time to reflect on the points made. The ACU is engaging with Dougie privately on this matter but, in the meantime, we want to assure the trials community that we are taking the letter seriously. As the governing body for British motorcycle sport the ACU has, for more than 120 years, supported its organisers and members at all levels, across all disciplines, and remains absolutely committed to doing so.”