After yesterday’s shocking news of the disqualification of David Knight the ACU British ISDE Team fought back gallantly on Day 4. With the end now in sight the riders are focusing on making it through the last day of enduro riding before Saturday’s final Motocross.
Following on from two jury meetings on Wednesday night a final decision is yet to be made on whether or not the exclusion will remain for David Knight and the seven other riders who were penalised for missing a route check on Day 3. After putting in appeals, all eight riders decided to start today in the hope that the exclusion would be lifted. Unfortunately a final decision is not expected to be made until after the event has finished.
After the frustrations of the pending decision, and some changes on his bike, David Knight put in his strongest performance of the event so far. He won Test 2, but his results are not listed in the standings due to yesterday’s exclusion.
Fellow Manxman Jamie McCanney was unable to get into the rhythm which has seen him running at the front throughout the event, and a couple of crashes left him focusing on his lead in the E1 class.
Tom Sagar was the stand-out rider of the Trophy Team on Day 4, the Welshman clocked the best time of the team and said he had really enjoyed himself on tests: “Each day is better and better! The worse the track gets the more I like it!”
Jack Rowland also arrived back at the paddock with a huge grin - the default setting for the young rider from Doncaster!
Jamie Lewis was not as happy as his two team-mates, but he was able to put in a respectable time nevertheless. The Trophy Team are now 20th.
In the Junior Team it’s a case of ‘getting the job done’. After hurting his arm yesterday, Day 4 proved to be another unpleasant day for 18 year old Lee Sealey, the Nantwich rider suffered a fall and injured his ribs as well as scraping his hand - Sealey certainly has grit and determination to ride through such pain, and he refuses to give up. The ever improving James Dent set the best time of the Junior Team, although he was sure he could have done better if he wasn’t so tired! Rob Johnson is keeping the team afloat after they lost Josh Gotts on Day 2, but he will adjust the jetting on his bike in the morning in the hope of a smoother run for Day 5. Although the Juniors drop one place back down to 6th, they are still well within reach of 5
th place or possibly even higher.
For the final ‘proper’ day of the event the riders will take to exactly the same course as Day 4, but heavy rain on Thursday evening could make the already churned up and slippery route even more treacherous. The riders will have to find the difficult balance of pushing to achieve their best possible positions, and being careful to ensure they bring their bikes and themselves to the finish.