Knighter makes a solid start to the 2011 BSEC season

KTM Enduro Factory Team rider David Knight has made an impressive start to the defence of his British Sprint Enduro Championship title, placing as the Elite class winner at round one of the ’11 championship before claiming the runner-up spot at round two. Using the event to compete aboard his 530 EXC machine for the first time this year, Knight ended the first day’s competition one-and-a-half minutes ahead of his nearest rival Tom Sagar but on day two his bike took in some water, which caused a slight misfire, resulting in the reigning Enduro 3 World Champion picking up the runner-up spot.

Falling on the opening test of round one Knight was quickly back in his stride and topped each of the remaining five special tests. Getting faster as the test became rougher, Knight ended the day pleased with his performance and comfortably ahead of all other riders. Day two was a very different story, with track conditions having deteriorated due to heavy overnight rain. With the organisers forced to cut short the day Knight was only able to top one of the three tests. After two tests everything was still to play for but despite making a good start to the test an intermittent misfire meant that David could do no better than the second place spot.

David Knight: ‘The first test on day one was going well until I got cross rutted and had a bit of a crash. I got back into the swing of things quickly enough and put in some good times on the next few laps then. I was just trying to work out what was working best on the bike because it’s the first time I’ve raced the new 530. As the day went on the track got a little rougher, which suited me better. During the last few tests I knew I didn’t need to take any chances and just settled into a good pace and managed to put in some really good times. The rain on the second day changed things a lot. I was trying to get out of the ruts in a lot of places but I’m not sure it was the best thing to do. I tried a few different things on the bike and although I lost some time on the first test I managed to pull most of it back again on the second. I felt good at the start of the third lap but I got water into the bike some how and it started to misfire a bit. It’s a little disappointing not to have won the second day but it’s been good to ride in conditions that we don’t get any more. I love riding real enduro tests no matter what the weather is. I’ve really enjoyed it. The season’s underway now so I’m looking forward to the first round of the British Enduro Championship now.’

Results – British Sprint Enduro Championship Round 1, Elite class

1. David Knight (KTM) 1.16:17.83; 2. Tom Sagar (KTM) 1.17:47.02; 3. Greg Evans (KTM) 1.19:08.57; 4. Si Wakely (Husaberg) 1.20:18.27; 5. Jamie Lewis (KTM) 1.21:03.15; 6. Paul Edmondson (KTM) 1.21:43.50; 7. Daryl Bolter (KTM) 1.22:47.31; 8. Tom Church (CCM) 1.22:47.31; 9. Gavin Houson (Husaberg) 1.23:03.82; 10. Ollie Moyce (Kawasaki) 1.23:11.39

Results – British Sprint Enduro Championship Round 2, Elite class

1. Tom Sagar (KTM) 30:48.33; 2. David Knight (KTM) 31:02.75; 3. Greg Evans (KTM) 31:53.78; 4. Daryl Bolter (KTM) 32.26:15; 5. Jamie Lewis (KTM) 32:39.58; 6. Simon Wakely (Husaberg) 32:40.74; 7. Paul Edmondson (KTM) 32:55.21; 8. Gavin Houson (Husaberg) 34:03.52; 9. Jon Hinam (Husaberg) 34:52.89; 10. Lee Edmondson (KTM) 34:55.12