Celebrating its centenary this year, the Scottish Six Day Trial (SSDT) has attracted a star-studded entry of legendary riders and this includes the return of the Italian hero Diego Bosis. The now forty three year old last rode the iconic SSDT in 1986 when he finished in a respectable twenty-first place. This marked the end of a three year run for the Italian rider, his best result being tenth spot in 1985. Having been runner up twice in the FIM Trial World Championship, in 1987 and 1990, Bosis is no stranger to performing on the big stage, although the SSDT still represents a very different type of challenge.

“I remember the very first time I entered the SSDT, it was a special occasion for me – I was lucky with the weather. The other two times I was not so lucky and I remember it being very cold and wet. In 1986 I was having one of my best rides and had managed to get into a good position for the final day. Unfortunately I experienced mechanical problems and was given extra points for losing time – eventually leaving me just outside the top twenty,” recalled Bosis.

Scotland, more precisely the loch-side town of Fort William where the SSDT descends each May, holds a special place in Diego’s heart as it was here during 1992 that he took the World championship lead from Tommi Ahvala and Jordi Tarres. Unfortunately for Bosis soon after the third round in Fort William during that season, the riders boycotted the championship as riding styles started to change and the ‘hopping and stopping’ technique was introduced. This style remains in contrast to the more traditional and popular ‘no-stop’ rules that continue to be used by the SSDT.

Bosis’s career has been long and illustrious having only retired from competing in the Italian Championship at the end of 2009. Nowadays he is the FIM section maestro for the World Championship and a test rider for Italian motorcycle magazine Fuoristrada. Bosis will attend this year’s SSDT with respected photojournalist Pupi Alifredi. The two will report throughout the week as Diego competes on a Gas Gas machine provided by the Spanish factory and the support of the Italian importer, Claudio Favro. Also supporting Diego in his exciting Scottish return is chairman of SPEA (main sponsor to the FIM Trial World Championship), Luciano Bonaria.

“I am very excited about coming back to Fort William for this special event as I have many happy memories from when I was in Scotland before. The SSDT is a great event and one that I am looking forward to being a part of during this important moment in history. I hope to ride well, but my biggest point is to enjoy the week,” Diego explained.

Marking its centenary, the 2011 Scottish Six Days Trial will take place in and and around Fort William between Monday 2nd and Saturday 7th May - for more details please visit www.ssdt.org

Click here to view the provisional 2011 SSDT entry list [EL]

100 YEARS OF THE SCOTTISH SIX DAY TRIAL

The event actually originated as a five-day reliability trial back in July 1909, before being extended to a six-day competition a year later. However the start of the Scottish Six Day Trial (SSDT) proper as organised by the then newly formed Edinburgh and District Motor Club began in 1911. In those early years the trial started and finished in Edinburgh with the route taking the riders to John O’Groats and back over the course of the week. Fort William was introduced as the hub for the event in 1938, although the start and finish remained in Edinburgh, which continued to be the case until all links with the Scottish city were cut in 1977. Today the SSDT consists of six different daily routes that total approximately five hundred miles, which begin and end in Fort William each day.

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