David Knight hopes to contest Moto1 as World Champ
Moto1
By Carly Rathmell
September 23 2004
Talented David Knight is just two rounds away from clinching his first World Enduro Championship title and is looking to double his 2004 celebrations with Moto1 victory at Donington Park, on 30th-31st October.
The Isle of Man rider contests the penultimate World Enduro round in Greece on 2-3 October, before a German finale on 16-17 October. “I’ve closed the gap to the leader to just eighteen8 points and there are still 100 points up for grabs,” explains Knight. “I’ll be trying my hardest to win the title, especially after finishing second three times! And I’d love to arrive at Moto1 as World Champion.”
Stunned KTM rider Knight has just returned home from the International Six Days Enduro in Poland, a terrifying event he wants to quickly forget. He reports: “I rode OK in the event, but it was everything else going on that was a worry. There was more than twenty bikes stolen from competitors and our British team manager needed a police escort to the airport, after he was advised to fly home early after trying to confront a gang of about thirty thieves.”
Knight continues: “And the criminals were armed with guns. They also hit a Swedish rider with a plank of wood while he was racing in a forest, and made off with his bike. An American rider crashed and was knocked out, when he came around his bike, boots and helmet were all gone. After that the special stages were manned by armed police officers - it was madness. Even when the event was over the British team woke on the day they were due to travel back and every van had been broken into. One of the vans had three bikes in it and was stolen.”
He concludes: “I can’t wait to get back to normality and begin my preparation for the final two World Enduro rounds and then Moto1.”
Knight is a firm favourite for the inaugural Moto1 crown after a successful trials, supermoto and motocross career. He was 1996 National experts trials champion, and recently finished in the top ten in a British Championship motocross round. Knight admits: “Road racing is my only worry, but I’ll be having a go on a bike before I get to Moto1.”
The first ever Moto1 spectacular involves 24 of Britain’s leading motorcycle sports stars doing battle during an action-packed two days of competition over four disciplines; road racing, motocross, supermoto and trials.
Moto1 action will run from 9am to 4.30pm each day. Additional attractions include the final round of the World Stunt Riding championship, a World Long Jump record attempt, freestyle motocross demonstrations, youth trials and motocross, a National Supermoto, two days of road races, a Classic Parade, the ‘world famous’ Purple Helmets and an extensive trade exhibition.
Event Managing Director Robbie Allan comments: “David Knight is a fantastic addition to the star-studded line-up for Moto1, and I’m certain he will bring top quality performances to every discipline. Moto1 will be a boost for David and the profile of Enduro competition, and I sincerely hope he arrives with us at the end of October as World Champion. We wish him every success in Greece and Germany.”
The Moto1 website has full details of all advance ticket offers at www.moto1.org