Manx ace David Knight claims another double Elite class victory to become Europe’s first ever enduro sprint champion…
THE final two rounds of Britain’s first ever Enduro Sprint championship took place at Saints Well, near Rhayader, Mid Wales this past weekend where challenging, wet conditions during round five made for a tough day for all competitors. Thankfully, improved weather left the event’s three-and-a-half mile special test in perfect conditions for round six. Continuing his dominance of the Elite class, although failing to end the series having topped each and every special test, Farioli KTM’s David Knight claimed overall victory on both days to become the first ever ACU British Enduro Sprint Champion. Behind Knight KORR KTM team mates Daryl Bolter and Greg Evans battled one another to claim the runner-up and third place positions with Daryl placing second at round five and Greg second at round six.
With constant, and at times heavy, rain throughout round five of the BESC series the day ended with all riders having slipped and skidded their way around the picturesque circuit. With one motocross track, a newly built extreme section, numerous grass track sections and a short but technical woodland section the track delivered over one-hour of special test racing. On Sunday, with conditions notably drier and with alterations having been made to the course, Knight topped the event in a time of 57 minutes.
TM’s Robert Lynn topped the Expert ES1 class on both days powering his way to two convincing wins. Ian Barnett claimed the runner-up position at round five with Neil hawker third. At the end of round six Lynn and Barnett again placed first and second with Jeff Perrett claiming third. Midwest Racing Husaberg rider Tyson Maythom-Jones was the man to beat in the Expert ES2 class during the rain lashed fifth round of the series. Placing over one-minute ahead of runner-up Oliver Hart Tyson’s Husaberg team-mate Aaron Poolman claimed third. At the end of round six it was Poolman who claimed the top spot ahead of Maythom-Jones to give Husaberg a one-two result while Oliver Hart placed third.
MPS Husqvarna’s Alex Rockwell claimed a commanding win in the Under 23 ES1 class at the end of round five, finishing close to four minutes ahead of runner-up Lewis Belfield. Had he been in the Elite class Alex would have finished fifth. Third went to BESC first timer Neil Chatham. Rockwell was again the rider to beat in the ES1 class at round six placing ahead of Husqvarna mounted Joe Deakin and KTM rider James Giddings. 17-year-old Joe Jones put in one of the stand out performances of round five topping the Under 23 class ES2 class aboard his KTM and recording the fastest overall Under 23 result. With Jones 22 seconds ahead of Husaberg’s Ollie Moyce third went to Mark Roberts on his KTM.
The final round of the series didn’t go to plan for Jones as a crash early in the afternoon resulted in him having to withdraw from the event. Moyce went on to top the class placing eight seconds up on Gas Gas rider Ashley Wood. Third, as he was on day one, was Mark Roberts. Manxman Daniel McCanney claimed a comfortable Under 23 ES3 class win at round five placing just under two minutes up on Husaberg’s Jamie Paget with Bradley King third. McCanney again claimed a well-deserved class win at round six again placing ahead of Paget and King. Alex Rockwell was the overall fastest Under 23 class rider at round six.
John Collins – ACU Trials & Enduro Chairman
‘Despite the challenging weather conditions during Saturday’s fifth round of the series it’s been another fantastic weekend of racing for the British Enduro Sprint Championship. With round five wet and round six dry it made for an extremely interesting weekend with exciting racing during both days. Everyone involved in the organisation of the BESC series has done a great job, not only in introducing the enduro sprint concept to the UK but in running six very professional events. I’m sure the BESC is a series that will go from strength to strength.’
David Knight – Elite class winner Rnds 5&6 ’10 BESC Series
‘Obviously conditions were pretty tough during round five but thankfully they dried up nicely and round six was great. But having a mix of conditions was good. It’s the first time this year I’ve raced in wet, Welsh conditions so I was really pleased with my results. The track was a lot faster and a lot harder to pull any time on during Sunday, which made things really close between a lot of riders in all classes. I had one off during Saturday and one during Sunday, but apart from that everything went well. Winning the Elite class title is great. It’s been a really good series and each of the rounds has delivered something a little different.’