Knight clinches GNCC title

From David Knight Results Service

David Knight is the 2008 US Grand National Cross Country champion. Winning the prestigious title for the second year running Knight secured the GNCC crown in style by winning the 11th round of the championship - The Unadilla GNCC in New Berlin, NY last weekend, bringing his total number of wins this season to seven. Knight joins Finn Juha Salminen as a consecutive two-time winner of the US GNCC series.

Although aware that he stood a mathematical chance of winning the title at The Unadilla GNCC Knight was focused on just one thing come the start of the XC1 Pro class race – surviving the horrendously muddy conditions. With a torrential downpour one-hour prior to the start of the race the Unadilla track soon turned into a muddy mess.

Making a mid-pack start Knight spent the first lap working his way towards the front of the XC1 Pro class but was forced to pit for fresh gloves and goggles at the end of the first lap. Soon back out front the two-time World Enduro Champion steadily started to open up a gap between himself and his nearest rivals.

Winning the race wasn’t going to be enough for Knight to secure the ’08 title, but when on lap five New Zealand’s Paul Whibley, his closest championship rival, ran out of fuel the title was secured. Claiming an eventual four-and-a-half minute winning margin Knight topped the podium ahead of his teammate Nate Kanney with Suzuki’s Jimmy Jarrett in third.

“It’s a great feeling to have won my second US GNCC title," Knight said. "I have to thank my mechanic Scotty, all my sponsors, and the entire KTM Off Road Team for their support and hard work this year. We’ve had some great races, some disappointing races, but to finally win the title is amazing.

"I feel bad for Paul Whibley though. He’s ridden really well all year so to see him run out of fuel here, which handed me the championship, isn’t how I hoped things would end. I’ve also had some disappointing races this year, but despite the horrible conditions here everything went really well."