Two Knight's the Knight...
By TMX Archives on 15th Jul 10
Despite being pushed hard by Welshman Greg Evans during the opening day of the fourth round of the '10 Metzeler ACU British Enduro Championship, the Central Wales Auto Club organised Knighton Enduro, David Knight secured another double event win last weekend to move within striking distance of yet another BEC title.
WITH just four seconds separating eventual day one winner David Knight from runner-up Greg Evans at the end of the opening day's competition the Knighton Enduro produced some of the closest racing action so far in this season's BEC series.
With Evans getting off to a flying start Knight trailed the Welshman by some nine seconds after the opening two special tests, forcing the Manxman to play a day-long game of catch up. And catch up he did.
Despite the fact that there was little to separate the two riders around the new for 2010 motocross special tests, it was at the enduro test where Knight managed to move to the top of the results. With Greg making a few ‘small mistakes' it was all Knight needed to edge ahead and eventually claim a four-second winning margin.
"I found it hard to get going early on day one,” explained Knight. "It wasn't until there were a few lines around the test that I could start to push hard. Greg was really fast during the first lap, which meant I couldn't afford any mistakes during the second and third laps.”
While Knight did eventually come out on top, Evans again showed impressive form and despite not quite managing to claim his first overall win was more than pleased with his performance and having topped the E2 class.
"Winning the first two tests outright set me up well for the day,” commented Greg. "I think I was about nine seconds ahead of David at the end of the first lap and managed to keep a similar pace to him on the motocross test all day. I made a few mistakes on the enduro test and David pulled about five second on me on one of the tests, which basically cost me the win.”
With Knight and Evans setting themselves apart from the rest of the Championship class, third overall went to Daryl Bolter, topping the Enduro 1 class in the process. Disappointed with his riding at last year's Knighton Enduro Bolter made a strong start to the opening day and rounded out the overall top three.
Paul Edmonds
Switching from his regular 450cc Suzuki to a 290cc machine Tom Sagar endured mixed fortunes at the Knighton Enduro. A strong fourth overall on day one and runner-up behind Evans in the E2 class, Tom placed just eight seconds behind Daryl Bolter but was forced out of the second day's competition with mechanical troubles. Paul Edmondson finished one spot behind team-mate Sagar on day one to finish fifth overall and second in the E1 class. Just four seconds behind Edmondson, and showing impressive speed despite his relative lack of BEC experience, was Husqvarna mounted Alex Rockwell.
Topping the E1 two-stroke class on day one was Edward Jones. Although unable to match the pace of the Championship class front runners he battled with Lee Edmondson throughout the day with just three second separating the two riders.
Despite light overnight rain day two was every bit as dry as the first with the hillside motocross test so dusty it looked more like a southern European special test. With changes made to his bike and preferring the rougher conditions on day two, Knight stepped-up a gear and topped each of the day's seven tests to claim a deserved, and largely unchallenged, win.
Also preferring the conditions on day two Daryl Bolter claimed the overall runner-up spot as well as topping the E1 four-stroke class, despite a big crash on the going. Comfortably ahead of the third placed rider Bolter spent much of the second day battling with team-mate Greg Evans before Greg accidentally clocked in one-minute early at the end of the tight check.
One of the stand out performances on day two was that of Alex Rockwell. Having ridden well on day one the Manx enduro newcomer upped his pace to claim a well deserved third place overall result as well as finishing behind Bolter in the E1 four-stroke class.
"I had a few problems with my rear brake fading on day one, which cost me some time on the final test, but day two was brilliant,” explained Alex. "I preferred the drier tests and I could really push hard. I'm still learning and riding on grass is something I'm not used to at all, so I'm thrilled to have finished third overall.”
KTM-mounted Scot Euan McConnell placed fourth overall and just three seconds behind Rockwell and in the process ensured that Paul Edmondson matched his day one overall result of fifth. Less than pleased with his riding Eddy couldn't find the form that saw him win the opening day of the '09 Knighton Enduro.
Edward Jones again topped the E1 two-stroke class having seen his closest challenger from day one, Lee Edmondson, run into some mechanic troubles. Vastly improving his overall position Edward came home in sixth overall, one place ahead of Greg Evans having picked up his one-minute penalty.
Enduro new boy Johnny Walker topped the Expert class overall on day one aboard his 250cc two-stroke KTM, with Gas Gas mounted Manxman Danny McCanney putting his name to the top of the results on day two.
Coming out on top of a gaggle of E2 and E3 class bikes on day one Walker claimed an 18-second winning margin and produced a result that would have seen him place seventh in the Championship class. Topping the E3 class and placing as overall runner-up Danny McCanney claimed a relatively comfortable result finishing ahead of E2 class riders Gavin Houson and Aaron Poolman.
James Giddings topped the E1 two-stroke class with fifth overall while Richard Ely won the E1 four-stroke class.
With the second day's drier conditions better suiting Manxman McCanney the Gas Gas rider produced what was his best performance to date. Comfortably topping the overall Expert class results the youngster's special test times were good enough for fourth in the Championship class.
Gavin Houson topped the E2 class with a fine second overall with Aaron Poolman third. Day one winner Walker finished fourth while Alun Jones topped the E1 two-stroke class in fifth overall with Ely sixth overall to top the E1 four-stroke class.
Steve Holcombe set himself apart from the rest of the Clubman class entry on day one at the Knighton putting in some very respectable special test times. Gethin Humphreys topped the E1 two-stroke class with second overall finishing ahead of Aled Price, Shaun Buchan and Adam Rees.
Winning again on day two Holcombe finished 20 seconds up on Humphreys with Buchan, Price, Rees and jack Berry rounding out the top six.
Jack Twentyman, Murray Thompson and Ian Barnett were the three best placed Vet A class riders on day one with Thompson moving ahead of Twentyman and Barnett on day two. In the Vet B class Russell Millward finished ahead of Phillip Smithson on day one with the two riders topping the class again on day two.
BRITISH ENDURO CHAMPIONSHIP Rd 4 – Knighton (Central Wales AC)
DAY ONE
Championship: 1 David Knight (KTM), 2 Greg Evans (KTM), 3 Daryl Bolter (KTM), 4 Tom Sagar (Suzuki), 5 Paul Edmondson (Suzuki), 6 Alex Rockwell (Husqvarna), 7 Ashley Wood (Gas Gas), 8 Ollie Moyce (Husaberg), 9 Edward Jones (KTM), 10 Euan McConnell (KTM), 11 Lee Edmondson (Suzuki), 12 Jon Hinam (KTM), 13 Jamie Paget (Husaberg), 14 Gethin Price (KTM), 15 Rob Jones (Yamaha),16 Andrew Edwards (KTM), 17 Bradley King (Gas Gas), 18 David Brick (Yamaha), 19 Kev Murray (Yamaha), 20 Mark Roberts (KTM).
Expert: 1 Johnny Walker, 2 Danny McCanney, 3 Gavin Houson, 4 Aaron Poolman, 5 James Giddings, 6 Alun Jones, 7 Jamie Roper, 8 Richard Ely, 9 Joe Deakin, 10 Frazer Norrie, 11 Tyson Maythom-Jones, 12 Lewis Belfield, 13 David Lloyd-Jones, 14 Daniel Beaven, 14 Steve Hunt,15 Oliver Hart, 16 Tudor Davies, 17 Richard Tucker, 18 Mike Bailey, 19 Richard Roper, 20 Stevie Roper.
Clubman: 1 Steve Holcombe 2 Gethin Humphreys, 3. Aled Price, 4 Shaun Buchan, 5 Adam Rees, 6 Matt Willey, 7 Craig Roper, 8 Rob Turner, 9 Leighton Roberts, 10 Shaun Bland, 11 Jack Berry, 12 Ryan Poolman, 13 Ian Payne, 14 Nick Smalley, 15 Darren Morgan, 16 Sam Toy, 17 Marty Jones, 18 Myles Rosser, 19 Daniel Phillips, 20 Tony Cotty.
Veteran A: 1 Jack Twentyman, 2 Murray Thompson, 3 Ian Barnett, 4 Paul Davies, 5 Karl Greenall, 6 Dave Coles.
Veteran B: 1 Russel Millward, 2 Philip Smithson, 3 Neil Williams, 4 Darren Osborne, 5 David Stokes, 6 Mike Alty, 7 Chris Boyce, 8 Dave Jones, 9 Phil Davies, 10 Robert Muffin, 11 Darren Jones, 12 Graham Howes, 13 Tim Ford, 14 Paul Simpson, 15 Shaun Benson.
DAY TWO
Championship: 1 David Knight (KTM), 2 Daryl Bolter (KTM), 3 Alex Rockwell (Husqvarna), 4 Euan McConnell (KTM), 5 Paul Edmondson, 6 Edward Jones, 7 Greg Evans, 8 Ashley Wood, 9 Kev Murray (Yamaha), 10 Robert Jones (Yamaha), 11 Jamie Paget (Husaberg), 12 Jon Hinam (KTM), 13 Rheinallt Davies, 14 Lee Edmondson, 15 Andrew Edwards, 16 Bradley King (Gas Gas), 17 Gethin Price, 18 David Brick (Yamaha), 19 Ollie Moyce (Husaberg), 20 Richard Warner (KTM).
Expert: 1 Danny McCanney, 2 Gavin Houson, 3 Aaron Poolman, 4 Johnny Walker, 5 Alun Jones, 6 Richard Ely, 7 James Giddins, 8 Lewis Belfield, 9 Jamie Roper, 10 Joe Deakin, 11 Tyson Maythom-Jones, 12 Steve Hunt, 13 Oliver Hart, 14 David Lloyd-Jones, 15 Daniel Beaven, 16 Tudor Davies, 17 Richard Tucker, 18 Frazer Norrie, 19 Richard Roper, 20 Ian Parker.
Clubman: 1 Steve Holcombe, 2 Gethin Humphreys, 3 Shaun Buchan, 4 Aled Price, 5 Adam Rees, 6 Jack Berry, 7 Craig Roper, 8 Rob Turner, 9 Matt Willey, 10 Sam Toy, 11 Jase Corden, 12 Shaun Bland, 13 Nick Smalley, 14 Darren Morgan, 15 Chris Davies, 16 Chris Larkin, 17 Ian Payne, 18 Tony Cotty,19 David Bell, 20 Marty Jones.
Veteran A: 1. Murray Thompson, 2 Jack Twentyman, 3 Ian Barnett, 4 Paul Davies, 5 Dave Coles, 6 Karl Greenall.
Veteran B class: 1 Russell Millward, 2 Phillip Smithson, 3 Darren Osborne, 4 Neil Williams, 5 David Stokes, 6 Mike Alty, 7 Chris Boyce, 8 Darren Jones, 9 Phil Davies, 10 Dave Jones, 11 Robert Muffin, 12 Paul Simpson, 13 Graham Howes,14.Shaun Benson, 15 Tim Ford.