A Knight to remember
By TMX Archives on 28th Jan 15
It was hard, really hard, all of it. Not just one bit, the hardest one yet! admitted KTM UK rider, David Knight, following his outstanding win at Eddys X-treme Enduro on Sunday.This was just what Paul Edmondson had planned a tough course, fairly short in comparison to the Heads of the Valleys event back in December, but intense with no place to rest.
Knighter described the mud as ‘claggy', sticking to the bikes and in the tyres and making the going difficult in places – quite different conditions to last year's very cold event at the same Tong venue.
Because of the event's billing as the opening round of the FIM Europe Extreme Cup there were plenty of riders from the Continent and Scandinavia eager to get away to a good start in this prestigious competition.
But they had to contend with UK riders who were battling in the second round of the ACU British Extreme Enduro Championship. It is fair to say the Europeans learned why the UK breeds such good extreme riders, once they had experienced the course at Parkwood Off-road Centre, Tong, near Bradford.
With a week to go the event was full and a reserve list was in operation.
The first race of the day – containing the Veterans, Youth 13-16 and Sportsman riders – boasted the largest contingent, although the second race had more than enough riders for the faster pace and more difficult sections.
The course was altered slightly between the two races and the infamous waterfall section was added for the Pro, Expert and Clubman riders, as was the ditch jump and a handful of other minor changes.
First race started at 9.30am and getting off the line quickly was crucial.
FOR FULL REPORT SEE TMX NEWS JANUARY 29, 2015 (ISSUE 1956)
