Knighter opts out of EWC GP of France

_Risk of injury too high at final world championship event due to dusty conditions - GMC News Release
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David Knight's participation in the eighth and final round of the 2011 Enduro World Championship ended on lap two of the opening day's competition when the two-time World Champion decided that due to the severely dusty conditions it was simply too dangerous to continue. Riding at the back of the Enduro 3 class on his KTM Enduro Factory Team bike as a result of having missed nearly all of this year's EWC championship following his double hip surgery, Knight's event started in the best possible way when he topped the Friday night Super Test. But with unseasonably dry conditions making all of the event's special tests extremely dusty, the fact that David was riding at the rear of the E3 class entry meant that on several occasions he caught slower riders. Forced to stop and wait for the dust to clear on more than once David took the difficult decision to stop on the grounds of safety.

David Knight: 'I always knew that competing in the last round of the world championship would be tough but being at the back of the Enduro 3 class made it impossible to compete. The dust was so bad in the special tests, especially in the enduro test, that it was just too dangerous. I had to stop completely a few times because I couldn't see - it was just too risky. Things started well with a good time in the Super Test on Friday night but I soon realised it was too dangerous to continue. There's nothing for me to gain in terms of the E3 championship but I just wanted to spend more time on a bike in competition. The possibility of making a mistake in the dust, hitting something that I couldn't see and aggravating my hips, was too high. I've worked too hard getting back my fitness to risk setting myself back at this stage. It's disappointing because I normally really enjoy races in France. I'm still getting some pains in my hips so with the season all but over I will be able to let things settle down a little now and continue with my physio.'