World champion trials rider Martin Lampkin has died after fighting cancer for at least the past year.

The Silsden motorbiking icon, first-ever FIM Trial World Champion in 1975, died on Saturday at the age of 65.

His family announced Mr Lampkin’s passing on Saturday on the website Trials Central.

Mr Lampkin’s son Dougie, who is also a motorbike champion, said on his Facebook page that he was devastated to announce the news.

The family statement said: “Martin continued right through to the present day to be a recognised and much loved figure within the motorcycle community the world over.

“He passed away peacefully surrounded by his immediate family near to his hometown of Silsden, Yorkshire.

“Our thoughts and condolences are with his wife Isobel, his sons Dougie and Harry and other members of the Lampkin family, plus all his many friends motorcycling and otherwise at this sad time.”

Funeral details will be confirmed later.

Mr Lampkin and his brothers Arthur and Alan, together with their sons have notched up seven world titles, six British titles and numerous motorcross and trials victories.

Arthur Lampkin set the pace for the family in 1959 riding for the BSA factory and taking the British scrambles championship.

Younger brother Martin, riding a Bultaco, became Britain's first world trials champion in 1975.

Mr Lampkin's Wikipedia entry states that in 1973 he won the European trials championship as well as the British trials national championship.

In 1975, the European championship was upgraded to world championship status and Lampkin claimed the title to become the first-ever trials world champion.

He retired from professional competition in 1982.

Besides his European and World Championship titles, Mr Lampkin was also a four-time winner of the Scott Trial, a three-time winner of the British trials national championship) and won the gruelling Scottish Six Days Trial three consecutive time.

Martin’s son Dougie this went on to win the World Trials championship several times.