Red Bull KTM Off-Road Team’s David Knight won his fourth championship in less than 12 months, following a runner-up result at the third and final round of the 2007/’08 Indoor Enduro World Cup, staged at the Palasport Fiera in Genoa, Italy, February 4. With the U.S. GNCC, Australian Four-Day Enduro and AMA Endurocross titles already his, “Knighter” has also became the first rider ever to win an indoor enduro championship in Europe, having dominated the series that started in Barcelona, Spain, before moving to Munich, Germany, and then finally onto Genoa.
With a healthy championship lead coming into the final round of the first ever FIM-sanctioned indoor enduro series, Knight was confident of a good result, but more focused on adding the FIM Indoor Enduro World Cup to his AMA Endurocross title than winning the race. Recording a lap time almost three seconds faster than any other rider during the official timed practice session, things looked good for Knight. Then going on to top his qualifying heat race, finishing ahead of indoor enduro newcomer Antoine Meo from France, Knight then saw things go from good to bad during his heat race.
Making several mistakes, he struggled home in sixth, which meant that the pressure was on, as his only chance of making it through to the final was via the Last Chance Qualification race. With just two riders eligible to pass through into the main from the LCQ, Knight started steadily before working his way to the front, opening up a 13-second advantage, and going on to win the race. Despite having done things the hard way, he was through to the final.
Knowing that he didn’t need to win the main event to win the IEWC Knight placed runner-up to Frenchman Antoine Meo, having come close to passing the Husqvarna rider on more than one occasion. Forced to line-up on the very outside of the start due to having to go through the LCQ, Knight rounded the first corner fourth and was quickly up to third. Moving into the runner-up spot before the end of the first lap, the Manxman held his position through the midway stage of the race, and, on the last lap, all but passed Meo through the tricky water section. Failing to find a way past, Knight decided to settle for second, and in doing so claimed the ’07/’08 Indoor Enduro World Cup.
Afterwards Knight said, “Winning the Indoor Enduro World Cup, as well as the GNCC, Aussie four-day and the Endurocross Championships, well, it’s great. It was tough tonight, though.”
KTM’s Ivan Cervantes finished third ahead of Husqvarna’s Bartosz Oblucki, while KTM’s Taddy Blazusiak finished sixth.
