knighter 101

KNIGHTER101

Somerset TRF managed to get enduro hero David Knight to give a three-day training session to members from the Somerset, Devon and Bristol Groups – Jon Boulton recounts the activities

During the lockdown period Somerset TRF had moved away from its monthly meeting at the local country pub. It had been forced to look at alternative ways of keeping the group together and updated, so of course everybody ’ s favourite, Zoom, took over.

We had a guest speaker online one evening, Neil Hawker, who had competed in last year ’ s Dakar. An interesting guy with a great enthusiasm for motorcycling. But as the nights grew darker and no riding was taking place, the appeal of Zoom began to dwindle.

Then Dean Allen, one of our Somerset members, mentioned that he had some ▲

DAVID’S RESPONSE WAS TO QUOTE WHAT HIS FATHER HAD TAUGHT HIM... “IF YOU GET IT STUCK, YOU GET IT OUT.

Photo: Jon Bentman

connections with David Knight and that he might be up for some rider training. The lights were back on! Why don ’t we see if we can persuade ‘Knighter 101’ (as he ’ s commonly known) to come down to Somerset and give three separate rider training days? David had also successfully completed his first Dakar, finishing in the top twenty, a fantastic result in one of the world’ s toughest events. Put that together with his five World Enduro titles, and why wouldn ’t he want to come and train the athletic off-road stars of the Somerset TRF? Lots of questions came up: ● Cannot believe how busy this guy is and so much in demand. If he agrees, what is he going to be like? ● Will any of us be able to ride with him? Will he come up with ridiculous obstacles only fit for a world champion? ● How will we sell 30 tickets, three days x 10 people per day, to ride with an enduro hero?

Needless to say, in two days we had sold all the tickets to TRF members from the Somerset, Devon and Bristol groups. All ranging in ability and age!

Just putting him into perspective, here is a summary of David’ s past achievements.

David ‘Knighter ’ Knight, MBE (born 31 May 1978) is a three-times World Champion enduro rider from the Isle of Man but holds five world titles altogether. From the age of three until he was 18, he was regularly competing in trials, reaching British Championship level. At 18 he switched to enduro and quickly moved to the top of the pack.

After competing in the Enduro FIM Junior Cup, David debuted in the World Enduro Championship riding for Yamaha. He finished runner-up in the 250cc class to Juha Salminen in 2001 and to Samuli Aro in 2002. In 2003, he moved to the biggest 500cc class and was placed fourth. For the 2004 season, Knight moved to the KTM team and finished second to his teammate Aro in the Enduro 3 class. In 2005, continuing in the E3 class, he took his first world title and also won the International Six Days Enduro outright. In 2006, he achieved a ‘ perfect’ season, winning all 14 rounds of the E3 WEC, as well as almost every special test at each event.

For 2007, Knight moved to the United States to take on the Grand National Cross Country

(GNCC) series against the best in the US. He replaced Salminen, who in turn moved back to the World Championship from the KTM US team. Despite some mechanical difficulties and an injury, David still managed to take the GNCC title. After defending his title the following season, he moved back to the World Enduro Championship and won his third world title in 2010.

David also competes in a wide range of ‘ extreme ’ enduro events, such as the Hells Gate extreme enduro in Italy, the Erzberg Rodeo in Austria, the AMA Enduro Cross Championship in Las Vegas, Nevada, and the Tough 100 in the UK (he has won all of these, even beating Salminen). In addition, and leading every lap, he won the first and second annual Red Bull Last Man Standing events in Texas.

The Manxman won two races at the inaugural 2007/8 FIM Indoor Enduro World Cup, beating Taddy Blazusiak to claim the title. In 2009/10 he collected a win and three podiums. This was followed by two wins and three podiums in 2012/13, when he was runner-up behind Blazusiak. He has won the Barcelona Indoor Enduro in 2003, 2006 and 2007, and came second six times in 2001, 2002, 2004, 2010, 2011 and 2013.

David is an accomplished all-rounder, having won the British Expert Trials Championship, as well as competing with success in various motocross and beach racing events. His all-rounder status was confirmed when he won the Moto 1 event in the UK, in which riders from several disciplines of motorcycle sport competed against each other in events across the spectrum from road racing and MX to enduro and trials etc. David was recognised in the Queen ’ s Birthday Honours list with an MBE in June 2011.

Some track record. Needless to say, we all agreed that Dean should persevere and try to organise some training with ‘Knighter 101’ . We had a good selling line: tell him how good it will be for him, what great guys we all are, and what we could teach him!

Dean managed to pull off this unbelievable request and David was in the Somerset TRF diary for three training days. We had a perfect location in lovely woodland that we also use for some of our forest ride days. The

landowner is also a huge ‘Knighter

’ fan and his son Tom rides in the expert motocross class. There is a shepherd’ s hut on site (very trendy but not quite the Hilton) and this was both home and base for David for the next four days.

On the Monday evening he arrived in Somerset, via the ferry from the Isle of Man, to meet Dean, Martin and Jon from Somerset TRF and they discussed detailed plans for the next three days. Nick’ s wife had arranged an outdoor cold buffet, where we got to know the real ‘Knighter 101’ , the most down to earth guy you could ever meet. After exploring the land and inspecting the topography, David made a plan for the following morning ’ s first lucky riders.

“All booked in? Let’ s ride, ” said David. “Just go around this track and I will soon see your individual abilities. ” No pressure on our guys, then. The first obstacle comprised the many slippery roots across the track – maybe we could attack these a little faster? There are two lines available: tight to the treeless roots, or wide of them but a slower line. We all think we can ride a bit, but let me tell you, ‘Knighter just hit them flat out, gliding over them as if they didn ’t exist. Then it was the group ’ s turn. He stood and watched every rider and guided them until they were confident about overcoming that particular obstacle.

Before Knighter moved on to the next ‘ corner ’ training section, he told us one of his great stories about team KTM and the Erzburg Enduro, which he has won twice – fascinating stuff. To be honest, it was nice to have a break as the riding was quite intensive.

And so it went on – corners, steps, rocks, streams, in and out of them all. We had huge respect for Knighter ’ s effortless bike control. He just enjoys riding bikes and loves to see others having fun. After lunch and the ‘ stoppies ’ , wheelies and pivot turns demonstration, it was time for the hill climbs. A nice series of reasonable ups and downs had been put in place, fast flowing over roots and incorporating tight turns top and bottom. Knighter was encouraging the guys, again boosting their confidence. I did say to him at one point, “There is a guy a bit stuck down there. Are you not going to give him a hand up?” His response was to quote what his

father had taught him:

“If you get it stuck, you get it out!” That’ s probably why he is so determined to succeed as a rider.

The big hill Knowing the land, and having been lucky enough to have ridden it for about the last 20 years, I’ m aware of an intimidating hill climb up the side of the quarry. I’ ve looked at it with many others for many years and never had the nerve to try it – short approach, roots part way up and a kicker at the top. At the end of each day ’ s training session, that’ s what you were left to try (if you wanted to).

We re-arranged our July monthly Somerset TRF meeting, bringing it forward by a day to allow Knighter to join us in the pub garden. We had a very informative question and answer session for about an hour and then he mingled with the members. It was really interesting to hear some of the experiences world-level riders have with manufacturers and contract obligations. We discussed his recent Dakar experience and the special challenges that brought as well as many other topics, all bike related.

My plan was to try and get him a bit ‘juiced-up ’ on cider on Wednesday night to make ‘ my ’ Thursday training day a bit easier. However, I think it backfired as, in my cider-infused state, I suggested that I would ‘fly ’ up that last hill. Knighter remembered that statement and when the time came, he looked at me and said, “Well, go on then. ” I’ m pleased to say I did, and was quite chuffed at my performance, enough to go around and have another go.

Somerset TRF was very fortunate to have had this opportunity and a big thank you goes to Dean for making this happen and assisting David in the training for all three days. It takes a lot to organise such an event, but within the club we have an excellent group of people always willing to take on the next challenge.

‘Knighter 101’ left on the Thursday evening and was due to compete in the Tough 100 in Wales on the Sunday, 10 laps of 10 miles per lap. I asked him where he hoped to finish. “Jon, ” he said, “I didn ’t enter to come second. ” This sums up the man, and he went on to win by 9 minutes. ■