Hard day's Knight
By TMX Archives on 2nd Sep 11
As the British Enduro Championship moved westward on the August Bank Holiday weekend, to the Dyfi Forest in west Wales, the rain clouds moved eastwards.
The Dyfi is a tough enduro in dry conditions and boasts an excellent special test, but Saturday saw the whole course turn into a quagmire as rain fell throughout the day.
Sunday was significantly better, but the damage had been done and the course underwent several alterations just to get the riders around it.
The one bright spot on the horizon was the return of KTM factory rider David Knight, now fully recovered from his double hip operations and back on form with a vengeance.
The Manx giant dominated both days even though he was only planning to ride on Saturday. His performance encouraged him to take to the course for a second time and he was rewarded with another outstanding win with no sign he had ever been away – except perhaps for his 'John Wayne' walk at the end of each day.
If the Dyfi was good for Knight, it proved to be a real upset for many other Championship contenders. Midwest Husaberg's Alex Rockwell was absent and team-mate Si Wakely damaged his thumb and was consequently lightly off-form. KORR's Greg Evans felt the effects of his plated shoulder on Saturday following his early crash at the ISDE, although he did improve significantly on Sunday to climb to third at the finish.
His KORR team-mate Daryl Bolter – who is still recovering from his recent appendix operation – retired on Saturday following a full-on struggle to free his bike from the mud, which proved all too much for him.
Fast Eddy-Edmondson Racing's Tom Sagar, chasing the overall champion crown, had a solid second place on the opening day but experienced fuel feed problems on Sunday and lost time to eventually finish sixth.
Bolter's withdrawal was good news for ISDE Gold Medal winner Paul Edmondson, who finished fifth on both days and moved into a commanding lead in the E1/4T class with just the Natterjack to go in the series.
E3 young guns, Jonny Walker (KORR) and Danny McCanney (Gas Gas), had exceptional rides on both days, with Walker finishing fourth on Saturday and second on Sunday as McCanney grabbed third on Saturday and fourth on Sunday.
KTM's Ash Wood extended his huge lead at the head of the E1/2T class, finishing in sixth then seventh place and taking a double class win.
Wood has been exceptional this season as he has shown his potential time and time again on the small 2T.
FEER's Lee Edmondson looks to have secured second place in the E1/2T Championship with another solid ride in very muddy conditions.
FOR FULL REPORT AND PICTURE SEE T+MX SEPTEMBER 2
METZELER BRITISH SOLO ENDURO CHAMPIONSHIP
Rd 5 – Barnett Engineering Dyfi Enduro (Mid-Wales TRA)
(Combined Times)
Championship: 1 David Knight, 2 Jonny Walker, 3 Danny McCanney, 4 Tom Sagar, 5 Paul Edmondson, 6 Greg Evans, 7 Ash Wood, 8 Jamie Lewis, 9 Simon Wakely, 10 Rhienalt Davies.
Expert: 1 Lewis Belfield, 2 Alun Jones, 3 Gethin Humphreys, 4 Jack Rowland, 5 Richard Ely.
Clubman: 1 Rob Johnson, 2 Fraser Flockhart, 3 Declan Helliwell, 4 Robbie Turner, 5 Lee Green.
Vet A: 1 Wyn Hughes, 2 Paul Davies, 3 Mike Turner, 4 Phil Smithson, 5 David Stokes.
Sportsman: 1 Michael Evans, 2 Gareth Thomas, 3 Daffyd Thomas, 4 Simon Larner, 5 Paul Bean.
FINAL ROUND: September 24/25 – Natterjack Enduro at Longmoor, Bordon, Hants (Army MCA/ Team REME).
