DOUGIE Lampkin and seven of his trials riding colleagues will certainly make the weekly shop in Manchester a lot more interesting on Saturday.

Deansgate will be closed for the third staging of the Red Bull City Trial, where Silsden's Lampkin has enticed such notables as Spaniards Toni Bou – the current world champion – and Adam Raga, who, like Lampkin, is a former world champion.

Lampkin, Bou, Raga, Spain's Jaroni Fajardo, who is the defending champion, Sweden's Eddie Karlsson-Montesa and United Kingdom trio Michael Brown, Jack Shepherd and Cookridge's James Dabill are the eight who are going to generate the excitement.

Lampkin said: "There are parallel courses and it is straight, uncomplicated head-to-head racing for the spectators to watch on a course which is bigger and better than ever.

"We had 32,000 watching last year, and it is ideal because people can watch a bit and then go shopping or watch a bit and go and have a coffee, and we have had a nod to Manchester in the design of the course this year because we have massive shipping containers, a lock in the middle to remind people of the Manchester Ship Canal and giant footballs for Manchester City and Manchester United.

"I have called in a favour to get Toni over for the first time, and his flair will make it exciting for everybody.

"The draw will be done on the day, but it wouldn't be good if I drew Toni in the first round, so I am going to make sure that that does not happen!"

The first-round action starts at noon, with rounds two, three and four beginning at 1pm, 2pm and 3pm respectively.

Lampkin added: "Our sport is not massive, and we don't get that many opportunities to publicise it like this by closing down a major thoroughfare like Deansgate.

"It is partly a matter of publicising the sport and partly a matter of competitive fun. The atmosphere should be great."

Lampkin is as busy as ever these days, although not necessarily all of it in competition.

He ended a week-long stay in Turkey recently by finishing ninth on his Eurotek Hope KTM in the Red Bull Sea to Sky extreme enduro event, which lasted three days, and before the end of the year he will launch the Vertigo motor cycle trials team, with himself as team manager.