KTM's David Knight triumphs in E3 to become world champion in Turkey

2010-09-05 12:50
KTM rider David "The Knighter" Knight on Sunday rejoined the ranks of the world's elite after competing in the first ever rounds of the Maxxis Enduro World Championship held in Turkey when he sealed the Enduro 3 World Title with still two rounds to go to complete the season.

The title was yet another triumph for the Austrian market leader in offroad motorcycles on a day when French KTM factory rider Marvin Musquin successfully defended his 2009 MX2 world championship title in Lierop (Netherlands) just two weeks after teammate Tony Cairoli won the MX1 title on KTM's revolutionary new 350 SX-F bike in Brazil.

David, born on the Isle of Man and infused from an early age with the spirit and passion for motorcycle racing, adds the latest title to a string of honors that also includes Enduro outdoor world titles in 2005 and 2006. David returned to the fold of the Austrian manufacturer at the beginning of the current season to join the KTM Farioli Team and a factory-supported rider and is already under contract to ride Orange in 2011 and 2012 as a full factory rider.

Knight, a large, powerfully built rider at home on the bigger bikes has been the season's outstanding constant rider in the powerful E3 class. In the 14 races up till when he took the title he was never once off the podium. He won eight times; was second four times and was twice in third place, illustrating that he is not only in peak form but also that he is capable of mastering any and all terrains.

In May this year David also claimed the first ever British Enduro Sprint Championship, wrapping it up in style with yet another double victory in Saints Well, Mid Wales in May. The 32-year-old is at the top of his game when it comes to competing against the world elite in riding skills, agility and tactics. As well as his seven other national titles, David is a double World Enduro Champion (2005/6), GNCC champions XC 2007/8, GBXC champion 2008, AMA Endurocross champion 2007, has twice won the Erzberg Extreme and the U.S. Red Bull Last Man Standing and was overall ISDE winner in 2005, to mention only a selection of his trophy collection.

David previously raced Orange in the World Championships and also in the USA and his return to the factory team underlines the KTM company philosophy of always being "Ready to Race" with the best and brightest in the world's top competitions. No decision has yet been taken about which of the three Enduro World Championship disciplines David will compete in 2011.

David Knight's World Championship season highlights
Rounds 1 & 2 Spain: 1,1; Rounds 3 & 4 Portugal: 2,1; Rounds 5 & 6 Italy, 3,1; Rounds 7 & 8 Poland: 1,3; Rounds 9 & 10 Slovakia 2,1; Rounds 11 & 12 Greece 2,1; Rounds 13 & 14 Turkey: 2, 1. Two rounds remaining in France to complete the season

Source: KTM-Sportmotorcycle AG

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