Knight joins BMW for WEC return

From David Knight Results Service

Newly crowned 2008 US Grand National Cross Country Champion David Knight has announced that in 2009 he will compete for the BMW Motorrad Motorsport team and return to the World Enduro Championship. In addition to his return to the WEC the Manxman has also extended his association with Red Bull, having signed an multi-year deal with the energy drink company.

Knight returns to the World Enduro Championship, a series in which he last raced as a full-time competitor back in 2006, as a two-time US GNCC champion.

While the WEC class in which he will compete hasn’t been decided Knight is keen to add selected extreme and indoor enduro competitions to his schedule, as well as hoping to compete in at least two rounds of the US GNCC series. Knight also hopes to compete in the International Six Days Enduro, which takes place in Portugal.

Although the complete BMW Motorrad Motorsport factory enduro team line-up hasn’t yet been decided Finland’s Juha Salminen and Marko Tarkkala have been named as competing alongside Knight in 2009.

“This is an extremely exciting time for me," Knight said. "Returning to the WEC means I’m returning to a championship I know well. But competing for the BMW Motorrad Motorsport team means I have an exciting new challenge ahead of me.

"Like any rider you have to truly believe in both your machinery and team to perform at your best, and I have absolute faith in BMW. My motivation to win is as strong as ever, and I know BMW are every bit as serious about winning as I am.

“KTM have supported me both in Europe and in the States since 2004 and I’m hugely grateful for their support. The last four years have been amazingly successful having won two WEC and two US GNCC titles, as well as Indoor Enduro World Cup and Endurocross championships and claimed ISDE and A4DE wins. Thanks to everyone at KTM, both in Austria and in the States.”