KTM's David Knight wins Hell's...
KTM's David Knight wins Hell's Gate Enduro for the second year in a row.
KTM Racing team rider David Knight claimed a convincing win at the second running of the Hell's Gate extreme enduro, the Fabio Fasola organized event in Il Ciocco, Italy on Saturday February 5. Winner of the '04 event, Knighter again showed exactly why he is world's best extreme enduro rider. He topped the event's morning qualifying enduro, and went on to lead the main Hell's Gate race from start to finish, claiming the 8,000-Euro first prize.
In the four-lap preliminary event (from which only 30 riders passed into the main Hell's Gate event), Knight finished the race as the only rider without time penalties, and also won all three timed special tests. Managing to negotiate his way around the rock and ice covered course better than any other, Knighter then took to the start of the Hell's Gate race as clear favorite.
With the 30 qualifying riders lining up on a road race-style start grid, Knight needed just one corner to work his way past the fast starting Swede Anders Eriksson before disappearing into the distance. Knowing that the opening lap would be an important one, the KTM pilot pushed as hard as the challenging course would allow him, opening up a healthy lead at the end of the first of the four laps.
As night fell, Knight came closer than he hoped to putting himself out of the race. Crashing while descending a rocky waterfall, the KTM rider damaged his lights. Surprisingly, though, he was able to continue without too much trouble. He reached the base of the event's final hill close to half an hour ahead of his nearest rival. Ten minutes later Knight reached the top of Hell's peak to claim his second Hell's Gate win in as many years and collect the 8,000 Euro first prize.
David Knight: "Anders (Eriksson) [came] up the inside of me in the first corner but I had the line for the second turn and from there I just tried to ride hard without making any mistakes. The first part of the course was quite tricky so I couldn't push too hard, from there on it was into the river bed and I was able to start opening up a lead. I knew that if the other riders couldn't see me then I'd be able to start pulling away. I pushed hard, didn't make too many mistakes, and had a pretty good lead at the end of the lap.
"I started to feel a bit tired on the third lap and started to make a few mistakes. I slowed myself down so that I wouldn't crash and at the start of the fourth lap I felt good again, like I could do another two or three laps!
"I tried being a smart-ass and rode down the waterfall in the dark on the last lap, crashed and broke my light. Luckily it wasn't too bad and I didn't lose too much time but it could have been pretty nasty. Getting up the final hill wasn't as hard as it was last year but I was glad to get to the finish. It's been a really good event again and I'm really pleased to have won for a second year."
Results - Hell's Gate enduro
(Only five riders finished the race!)
1. David Knight KTM
2. Wayne Braybrook Honda
3. Juan Knight Gas Gas
4. Anders Eriksson Husqvarna
5. Andrea Beconi Yamaha