Dougie Lampkin (Gas Gas) (photo - Edmunds)

Dougie Lampkin wins the Extreme Lagares 2011

The British achieved an unquestionable victory in the portuguese race but fell on his ankle injury.

The district of Penafiel hosted the last weekend the seventh edition of the largest extreme enduro in Portugal, the Extreme Lagares, and Dougie Lampkin became doubly protagonist in competition to reappear after several months of recovery from his ankle injury and do so with an undeniable victory.

The briton Gas Gas rider decided to participate in the portuguese race to prepare the final stretch of the season and getting ready for next start of the Enduro Indoor World Championship, and although up to the best place of the podium, the result was not as positive as expected. Dougie could beat the favorites in the race, as Andreas Lettenbichler, Paul Bolton, Xavi Galindo or Melcior Faja, and imposed at the end to an amazing Alfredo Gomez (who was second) and Galindo (third), although resented the injury that has affected him for much of the year.

After the disappointment it makes to Dougie the return of their physical problems, the rider starts again this week to the recovery work to try to get the best possible conditions for the next commitments of November. Besides the good sport results achieved Lampkin among Pro riders, the team Gas Gas Arjones took the second place at XL category, played in pairs, thanks to the excellent performance of Dani Carracedo and Jacobo Mendez. The Arjones team also shone in Amateurs, with another second place by Javier Quintas and Luis Cesar Morais.

Dougie Lampkin

"Winning always feels good, especially when you have been struggling and fighting with a bike in the hills all day long. It was a great event and one that I really enjoyed, so winning was certainly the icing on the cake.  The downside is that after the event it became clear that my ankle is still far from good.  Riding enduros rather than trials is actually easier on the ankle. Firstly the enduro boot is much stiffer and has a lot more ankle support. Also you spend much more time sitting down on an enduro bike, so the ankle gets some rest. I'm totally gutted that I'm going to miss the Scott Trial as it is still one of my favourite events. Also I have some unfinished business at the Scott after having missed one year though injury and having had two years with mechanical problems, all in the last three years. That said it would be stupid for me to set off, as five hours of abuse would definitely be too much for my ankle the way it is at the moment. The most important thing is to get my ankle sorted, as I have got a busy schedule coming up over the next few months”