David Knight wraps up WEC season with a win

At the end of what has been a hugely challenging season, Kawasaki Superbike Racing Team rider David Knight claimed victory at the final round of the 2009 World Enduro Championship when the GP of France staged in St Flour last weekend.

Proving that he is without question still one of the world’s very best Enduro racers, the Manxman battled hard during both days to claim the runner-up spot in the E2 class on day one, before topping the E2 podium on day two aboard his Kawasaki KX450F.

Knight’s second and first place results in France show that despite his mid-season change of machinery to Kawasaki,  he never gave up on ending 2009 with a win.

In topping the Enduro 2 class on day two David claimed his first ever E2 class victory, and with it put in one of the event’s most impressive performances.

Knight said: “It’s been a great weekend. With everything that’s happened this season this is the first time that I’ve felt like I’ve really been able to focus on just racing and this win really means a lot.

“We’ve not had the luxury of a winter’s testing so it’s been a case of trying different things, guessing sometimes, to turn a standard motocross bike into a machine capable of winning at World Enduro Championship level, which we’ve done.

“I had some new parts in my engine this weekend, which worked really well, but it took me a little while to get used to them. I made one mistake on day one and I think it cost me the win but I didn’t want to push too hard too soon.

“I wanted to wait and see if the others made mistakes, before staying safe on the last lap. It’s great to end the season with a win and I have to say a huge thanks to my team.”

Results 2009 WEC Round 8, GP of France

Enduro 2 class, Day 1
1. Juha Salminen (BMW) 48.55:88; 2. David Knight (Kawasaki Superbike Racing Team) 49.03:24; 3. Cristobal Guerrero (Yamaha) 49.09:38

Enduro 2 class, Day 2
1. David Knight (Kawasaki Superbike Racing Team) 55.38:23; 2. Rodrig Thain (TM) 55.51:39; 3. Juha Salminen (BMW) 56.02:95