Jack Sheppard’s wrist operation is a success!
Eighteen-year old Jack Sheppard is making good progress following his recent and successful operation to rectify the season long problem with his right wrist. Top hand surgeon Doctor Campbell was pleased with how the complicated procedure had gone and predicted that Jack should make a good recovery. Britain’s only FIM World Champion this year will return to the Leeds clinic this Friday for his first check up and to hopefully have a full cast fitted that will allow him to be more mobile and active.
Jack will make the most of his trip north from his home in Ipswich, Suffolk and will travel onward to be a frustrated and interested spectator at the World famous Scott – time and observation trial due to be held near Richmond, North Yorkshire this coming Saturday. Sheppard will no doubt have mixed emotions about returning to the Scott, after a mechanical problem robbed him of a strong debut finish at the ultra tough event this time last year.
Whilst Jack’s activities have been completely restricted during the early part of the healing process post operation, he was recently allowed to enjoy a special evening of celebration. Around one hundred and fifty invited guests were present for a surprise party organised for Jack, as his native Eastern centre recognised and applauded what is hopefully the first of many World titles for the youngster.
Beta UK boss John Lampkin was on hand to offer his most heart felt congratulations and to praise Jack’s incredible efforts to ride through the pain to take both the World and European crowns. Suffolk’s finest export even managed to add a few words of his own to the evening, thanking his family and sponsors for their ongoing support.
After this initial period of recuperation, Sheppard will soon be able to return to his physical training programme in readiness for when he can resume riding his bike either later this year or early in 2012. Currently plans are being put in place for Jack to make a full World assault again next season, with his goal of collecting back to back World titles being his main priority. Discussions to date suggest that all of Jack’s loyal and valued sponsors will continue to assist him as he moves to the next step of his promising sporting career.
Commenting on his recovery Sheppard said. “The good news is that the operation went well and that Doctor Campbell was both pleased with the work he has done and is hopeful that the results should be good if I follow his instructions and don’t try to do too much too early. Hopefully the worst bit is now over with, and gradually step by step things will get better.”
“I am looking forward to going to the Scott and in someways am almost pleased that I will not be riding, as I can still remember how tough it was last year. It will be nice to see some familiar faces and to see a trials bike again, as all mine have been removed from the garage to avoid any temptation.”
Jack wrapped up by saying. “The celebration party was a great surprise and was a real boost for me just at the right time. I would like to thank Dave Cordle and family for organising it, also to thank all those people who came on the night, especially all my sponsors without whom I would not have been able to have achieved what I have done so far.”
Loris Gubian dominates in French championship!
Factory Gas Gas rider Loris Gubian has had a fantastic domestic season this year, dominating his rivals in both the outdoor and urban championships.
Despite narrowly missing out on a top six position in the final World championship standings, the Jitsie rider has made great progress this season and looks ready to challenge for a top five position in 2012!
Posted in Rider
Tagged French championship, Gas Gas, Loris Gubian, Urban trials, World championship
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Sheppard collects his gold medal!
Despite not being able to ride due to his injured wrist, Jitsie Beta factory rider Jack Sheppard was still present at the closing round of the 2011 SPEA FIM Trial World Championship in France. Eighteen-year old Jack made the trip to the French venue to collect his FIM gold medal having already clinched the Youth World title at the previous Grand Prix in Japan. Sheppard received his FIM award as part of the end of championship prize giving ceremony that was held at the ski resort of Isola 2000.
As Britain’s newest and only FIM World Champion this year, the teenager from Ipswich, Suffolk proudly stepped up on to the top step of the championship podium to collect his reward for his season’s hard work during which he has suffered much pain due to the long standing problem with his wrist. Already with his right wrist in a protective cast, Jack will undergo an operation in the next ten days to rectify the rare condition, which will put the youngster out of action for up to three months.
A very proud Sheppard spoke about his delight at receiving his gold medal. “Having spent most of the year travelling, it would have been easy to have stayed at home this weekend, however I was not going to miss out on collecting my award in person. Somehow it now feels real, as it has taken a little while to sink in.”
“Now I have the medal I actually feel like a World Champion and it feels good. I am going to try and enjoy the next few days as after that it is going to be a case of going for another scan and the having the operation.”
“I know the next few months are going to be difficult, but I am already trying to focus on next season and making sure that I come back as strong as possible.” Ended Jack.
Jack Sheppard 2011′ World Youth champion!
Jitsie factory Beta rider Jack Sheppard realised his life long dream by claiming his first ever World title as the eighteen-year old from Suffolk won the second day of the Japanese Grand Prix to take the 2011 SPEA FIM Youth Trial World Championship. Whilst fourth place would have been sufficient for Jack to wrap up the series, typically the youngster from Ipswich dug deep to deliver a winning ride so that he could secure his maiden World title in some style.
This weekend marked the close of an extremely difficult and incredibly painful campaign for Sheppard who has suffered with a potentially career ending injury all season that has prevented him from riding except actually at events. Unable to practice between competitions for several months now Jack has displayed patience well beyond his years and shown deep determination to reach his goal. Even those closest to the red headed rookie were unsure if Jack and his decaying wrist were going to survive the test of time, and allow him the title that he so richly deserves.
The second and final day of the Japanese Grand Prix proved even wetter than Saturday’s swamp like conditions as more rain fell over the expansive Motegi Twin Ring facility. Having predicted ongoing bad weather the organisers eased four of the Youth sections overnight to create another slippery, although sensible day of competition. However despite these forced changes even the simplest section was anything but easy with the glue like mud making it tough going throughout the trial.
Having been raised in the mud and sand that defines his native Eastern centre, Sheppard showed his liking for the sticky sections and absolutely destroyed the opposition on this occasion, coming home a massive forty five marks ahead of his nearest challenger. Lap scores of fourteen marks followed by an even better closing performance of twelve marks gave Jack the all important win and ensured he sealed the title in emphatic style.
In his typically controlled manner Sheppard was measured in his reaction at becoming FIM Youth Trial World Champion. “I am just happy to have got the job done. This is what we set out to achieve at the start of the year and now it has come true. My biggest feeling at the moment is relief, as my wrist has been a real worry and no one including me, knew if it would be good enough to make it to the finish.”
“Obviously I am incredibly happy with the title won, however I am now already thinking about the next big challenge and that is getting my wrist operated on as soon as possible and then starting on the long road to recovery so that I can be fit and ready for next season. The plan right now is to try and ride at the final round of the European championship next weekend and win that title too, though I will have to see how my wrist is over the coming days after two days of hard riding.”
Dougie Lampkin meets Scottish First Minister at UK World trial in Fort William!
As the final preparations are made to the UK World Trial that will take place this weekend over the 30/31 July at Nevis Range, Fort William, Alex Salmond – First Minister of Scotland was a welcome visitor to the venue. Mr Salmond was in the area as part of the Scottish National Party’s 2011 campaign tour, which will see him meet with other politicians to discuss several key issues.
The SNP leader was in high spirits as he toured the paddock area under glorious sunshine that has blessed Nevis Range over the past few days. With the World’s best trials riders poised to contest the sixth round of the 2011 SPEA FIM Trial World Championship, the charismatic politician took time out of his busy schedule to meet some of the event organisers as well as twelve times FIM Trial World Champion Dougie Lampkin.
Mr Salmond chatted with Dougie about the forthcoming event and Dougie’s bid to claim his one hundredth GP victory, which he hopes to do on home soil in front of a patriotic crowd this Sunday. Dougie commented, “It’s brilliant that Mr Salmond could come up to Nevis Range ahead of the Trial this weekend. One of the great things about trials is that it appeals to a wide range of people, even those who don’t particularly ride motorcycles. Mr Salmond was really interested to learn about the different sections, it was great to have someone of his stature visit the event.”
Check out the event website for more info: ukworldtrial.com
Dougie Lampkin returns to Goodwood festival of speed
Twelve times FIM Trial World Champion Dougie Lampkin lined up alongside a host of other two and four-wheel stars at the recent Goodwood Festival of Speed. Having first visited the Chichester based Goodwood estate in 2008, this is the third year that Dougie has featured at the annual celebration of motorsport.
In previous years Dougie has performed a one man show as part of the festival, including riding through the historic Goodwood House whilst maneuvering within inches of priceless antiques and artwork. Dougie also famously rode on the roof of both the house and the March Grandstand during his earlier visits.
This time around the thirty-five year old Yorkshireman’s schedule was a little different. After initially showing off his own series of tricks, Dougie stood shoulder to shoulder with other Red Bull athletes such as freestyle motocross phenomenon Robbie Maddison, street cycle trials star Danny MacAskill and BMX guru Kye Forte. Performing in ‘tag team’ combinations Dougie demonstrated his unique ability on an off-road motorcycle over a mixture of hazards, despite still struggling with a badly injured ankle.
Speaking about taking part in the recent Festival of Speed Lampkin said, “Riding at Goodwood is always an event I enjoy. This year the format was different from before and I thought it was great – as did the crowd. Getting to perform with Robbie Maddison and the other Red Bull guys was a brilliant experience and something I’ll never forget.”
“In the past I’ve done some pretty crazy things at Goodwood and I would love to come back next year – it is definetly one of the events I look forward to most. We had stunning weather during all four days and I even got chance to have a good look round the rest of the festival this time,” continued the factory Gas Gas rider.
Whilst primarily recognised for his achievements on a trials machine, in more recent times Dougie has become well known for his extreme enduro exploits, especially after recently finishing second at the notorious Erzberg enduro in Austria. Having initially injured his left ankle at the Scottish Six Days Trial in May, Lampkin has failed to fully recover and has taken the difficult decision to forfeit the up and coming fifth round of the SPEA FIM Trial World Championship in Italy this coming weekend.
Still in search of his 100th GP win, with his best hope being at his home GP in just over three weeks time, Dougie went on to say, “The truth of the matter is that my ankle is just not getting any better and I need to take some time out to let it recover. The riding at Goodwood was reasonably tame compared with how it will be in Italy and I know my ankle isn’t going to hold up. My results in the World championship have suffered since the start of the season, however I could do more damage if I continue to ride on it. I’m booked in to get some more physiotherapy within the next few weeks and I’m fully committed to being fit for the UK World Trial in Fort William at the end of July.”
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Tagged Alpinestars, Dougie Lampkin, festival of speed, Gas Gas, Goodwood, No Stop, Tactical trials division, txt pro, World championship
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