John Lampkin

Beta. "Hawkstone Park...what a fantastic venue! It makes the hairs stand up on the back of my neck just thinking about it. For me I have so many great memories from this place. I was never old enough to watch my father ride in the motocross grand prix but I have listened to many stories of him riding at Hawkstone.

"I have a great picture of him in my living room riding I think in the Motocross des Nations which is just after the start and he is coming down the outside of the riders with his bum over the back and his head down on full gas with a trail of dust where he has hit the top of the bumps. I would have loved to have watched that.
"I have been to watch a few motocross grand prix events there and the atmosphere was always electric. I watched Dave Thorpe ride his 500 HRC Honda at Hawkstone, listening to his factory bike go up that hill was just great. That man could ride a motorbike and it was a pleasure to watch him ride there. I was there when Jobe jumped over the top of Malherbe, not something you forget in a hurry.
"My brother Stephen rode in a motocross there - on the first corner there was a big pile-up and Steve went round the outside into the lead. He was so excited to be in the lead that he flew through the ropes on the next corner. I went to watch our Harry (Dougie's brother) ride in the New Year's Day motocross with all of our family cheering him on including my father standing nearly in the middle of the track shouting at him to send it on. Harry even went home in his own van and not the ambulance so it was a good day all round.
"I rode in the British Experts at Hawkstone. This event was always at the end of the year and always attracted good crowds. It was very nice to win the event in 1983 as Steve Saunders was hard to beat there, especially when he was riding his factory Hondas. I remember Tony Scarlet shooting out of the side of a section and going down a 20 foot drop. We all thought he was dead but our Tone dusted himself off and set off on his way again.
"I also minded for Dougie there in his early days which was a great time. In 1995 Dougie had a nightmare and whatever we tried as a team to do did not work. I think Dougie learnt a lot from that day and it was possible a case of just trying too hard. Along with Martin I minded again for Dougie in 1998 when he won the event. It was such an emotional day as the crowd were virtually riding his bike for him. I had tears in my eyes halfway round the second lap and he hadn't even won by then.
"I now go to Hawkstone on a commercial footing showing all of our Beta trials bikes. This is a great opportunity for us to show our bikes as any keen trials rider will be at Hawkstone.
"I would like to finish by complimenting uncle Martin, Jake and their team of helpers on organising a BRITISH round of the world championship. There are plenty of people that talk about doing things but they have made it happen. Last year was such a fantastic event and I cannot wait for this year."