After frustratingly missing out on a rostrum finish at both rounds six and seven of the US Grand National cross Country Series Red Bull KTM Off Road Race Team rider David Knight returned to the podium at round eight, The Stomp GNCC, where the defending series champion placed third after yet another eventful race. Starting well and leading at the end of the first lap, Knight was penalised 30 seconds due to having fired his bike into life before the starters flag dropped, which in part resulted in him being able to win the race. Having also taken a wrong turn during the opening stages of the race David was forced to re-ride part of the track – something that put him further behind the leaders. Despite not winning the race David remains comfortably out front in the ’08 US GNCC points standings

Second as he exited the first turn and then quickly moving into the lead David Knight seemed to be headed towards his fifth win of the season at The Stomp GNCC, staged in Yadkinville, NC. But just like at the previous two rounds of the series it wasn’t to be for the defending series champion as the factory KTM rider eventually placed third behind Suzuki’s Josh Strang and Charlie Mullins. Firing his bike into life before the starters flag dropped, but quickly killing his engine before re-starting it again and then coming close to claiming the holeshot, David past the one rider ahead of him to end the opening lap marginally ahead of his XC1 Pro class rivals. But deemed to have gained an unfair advantage at the start of the race the Manxman was forced to stop for 30 seconds, which resulted in him dropping to sixth.

Despite his best efforts David was unable to work his way into the lead, soothing that was partly due to extremely dusty conditions. Third by the mid-way point of the race, and comfortably ahead of the fourth placed rider Paul Whibley, David opted to settle for position and in placing third maintains his sizable lead at the head of the championship.

David Knight: “Third isn’t the result I’d hoped for but considering the race I had it’s not too bad. I’m pleased with the way I rode, I guess things just didn’t go my way. I started well, but because I fired my bike up before the flag dropped I got penalised 30 seconds at the end of the first lap. I’d stopped my bike again and re-started it again when the flag dropped, but I had to take the penalty. It was tough watching riders go past when there was nothing I could do because I was just sitting there for 30 seconds.

“I felt good during the first lap, but after I had to stop it was hard because of the dust. It was pretty tight and dusty in the trees that it was hard to make up time. I could have pushed harder but it was easy to make a mistake. After the last two races it’s nice just to be back on the podium. I still have a good lead in the championship, so all in all it wasn’t a bad race for me.”

Results – US GNCC ’08 Rnd 7, XC1 Pro class

1.   Josh Strang (Suzuki) 2:48.00

2.   Charlie Mullins (Suzuki) 2:49.17

3.   David Knight (KTM) 2:49.48

4.   Paul Whibley (Suzuki) 2:51.56

5.   Glenn Kearney (Husqvarna) 2:52.43

6.   Nate Kanney (KTM) 2:54.08

7.   Jason Raines (Yamaha) 2:55.13

8.   Garrett Edmisten (Kawasaki) 2:56.54