We have written previously about David Knight’s trials and tribulations this year aboard his factory BMW, and his ultimate switch to a privateer Kawasaki. Listing one of his sponsors as “Kawasaki Superbike Racing”, Knight worked hard to develop his green machine and finished the year in style . . . by winning the final round of the World Enduro Championship in the E2 class this past weekend in France. Among those he beat? How about former BMW teammate Juha Salminen, who topped Day 1 before Knight clinched the overall with a victory on Day 2 (where Salminen finished in third position). Salminen beat Knight on Day 1 than by less than 8 seconds.
You can bet Knight will be offered a more serious sponsorship by the Green factory for 2010.
MD Readers Respond:
- Recently my Tivo grabbed an Endurocross race with Mr. Knight competing on a KTM. Not sure how current this was, however after losing to his team mate on the final lap, Knight unceremoniously launched his bike over the tractor tire obstacle (which his teammate was perched on top of enjoying his victory) causing it to nearly miss his teammate and crash on the other side. This does not seem to be the attitude of someone worthy of praise in my book. Post race interview found Knight implying that he thought his team mate would have helped him out, but instead went on to win…. Bill
- With all do respect, that BMW was a piece of CRAP!
Just the fact that Juha Salminen was able to podium on that thing is an accomplishment on it’s own.
Knight couldn’t even keep that thing straight on the trail says a lot for what Juha has been able to pull off this season and again it proves the quality of a rider that he’s always been and what Knight only aspires to be.
To say that Knight accomplished something special by winning on the KX450F is Bull Crappy!
The KX450F is a proven race machine and in the hands of both GNCC points leader Paul Whibley and WORCS points leader Ricky Dietrich says volumes about that machines proven capabilities…. Knight had to do nothing to win on that thing other than follow the race notes from those who put in the time to make the KX450F a race winner.
I think the bigger story here is that Juha Salminen stuck it out on a machine Knight gave up on and he spanked the Brit on numerous occasions this season doing what he was hired for and that was to develop and win on a unproven machine.
The only person that should be getting any credit here is Juha Salminen for keeping his word and doing what he was hired for.
The only thing Knight proved is that he rides in Juha’s shadow…. and you remember that! Dale
