Wirral Off Road 

David Knight and Justin Wilson pull off a D3-Racing 
KTM double at ‘The Tough One’ organized by Wirral 
Off-Road at Nantmawr Quarry, near Oswestry.

David Knight claimed a well earned victory at the first running of the Wirral Off-Road The Tough One event staged at Nantmawr Quarry near Oswestry where he finished four minutes ahead of his brother Juan and a further four minutes up on Edward Jones. Topping the event David claimed the £1’000 winners first prize.

Handicapped by five minutes at the start of the race Knighter had to firstly put on his riding boots and then fit both wheels to his D3-Racing 250cc KTM, before setting off after both the Pro and Expert class riders. Calmly setting off into the two-hour race it took David less than a lap to catch the tail end of the Expert class as he started working his way towards the pro riders ahead of him.

Setting consistently quick lap times, despite having to battle against both the course and the riders ahead of him, David posted two identical seven minute laps just before the half way point of the race, which saw him move to within striking distance of the top three.

David Knight showing his class over the grueling log pile.

Getting caught up in traffic on some laps and having a clear run at the challenging Nantmawr Quarry track on others, David closed in on his brother Juan who was leading the race at a rate of 30 seconds a lap. Aware that he was still one-and-a-half minutes behind the top Pro class riders with 40 minutes of the race gone, David decided not to risk trying to get to the front to lead at the one-hour mark, and in doing so claim the £250 that was up for grabs, instead settling into the steady pace that would see him lead shortly after the mid-race re-fueling stop.

Once in the lead David never looked back and extended his lead to just over four minutes at the flag. But before David reached the end of the race he found himself falling twice, both times on the faster, slippery grass sections of the course. By winning the race David added victory to his podium topping rides at the Genova Indoor Enduro and the Hell’s Gate event, both held in Italy.

Also winning for the D3-Racing KTM team at The Tough One was Justin Wilson, who topped the Expert class. Leading from start to finish Justin completed the two hour race without stopping to collect the £500 Expert first prize.

David Knight: "I knew that I was going to be held for five minutes at the start after the rest of the Pro class had started so I didn’t bother rushing fitting my wheels of putting on my boots. I started pretty steady and there were a few riders stuck, which meant that I lost more time to the leaders – I thought that the leader would be passing me at one point. It was difficult to push hard early on because it was a bit icy in places.

"I had a couple of good laps on my third and fourth lap, and managed to get passed quite a few riders. Then I hit more traffic and lost some time in the wooded part of the track. I was closing the gap to the leaders but then I lost it again when I hit traffic, which was a bit frustrating.

"I settled into a pretty good pace after about six laps and I was catching at about 30 seconds a lap. I actually passed Juan, who was leading the race, shortly after we both left the pits. That was just after the hour. I knew that 40 minutes into the race that he was one-and-a-half minutes ahead so I didn’t push too hard to pass him before the hour because it was too risky. I just picked my way through the riders and with about 45 minutes I got into the lead.

"I crashed with about 20 minutes before the finish on the grass fields at the top of the course. I tried squaring one of the corners off to keep out of the rut and I ended up on my ear after my bike high-sided me off. A few laps later I out-braked myself and ended up on the deck again, but I didn’t lose too much time.

"It’s been a really great event and I didn’t find it too tiring. There were a few places where you had to make sure you didn’t make any mistakes because the rocks were really slippery. I’ve really enjoyed the event, I think everyone has. It was great to see so many spectators and TV as well.

Justin Wilson: "I’m made up to have won. Knowing that there was £500 up for grabs I had to give it my best shot. I got a really good start. I think I was second into the first corner, which made things easier on the firsts lap. A few corners later we’d caught the tail end of the Pro class riders who had got caught up in a bottle neck. I managed to barge my way passed a few Pro class riders as well as getting to the front of the Expert class.

"On the second lap I got the signal telling me that I was about four minutes ahead, but then my arms locked up with arm pump. I was struggling to keep the pace that I’d been riding at so I just tried to stay smooth and not get stuck anywhere or make mistakes. Darren Wheeler started to catch me then but I just tried to keep pushing forwards.

"I switched onto reserve with about half an hour to go. Darren was so close that I knew that if I had come in for fuel he’d have passed me. I just went for the win and it paid off. When I finished the race I had about enough fuel to fill a thimble. I thought that there was one more lap than there was, which was a welcome surprise."

The Tough One – Pro class results

• 1. David Knight (D3-Racing KTM) 16 laps

• 2. Juan Knight (Gas Gas) 16 laps

• 3. Edward Jones (KTM) 16 laps

• 4. Mario Rinaldi (Husaberg) 16 laps

• 5. Ady Smith (KTM) 15 laps

• 6. Mark Jackson (KTM) 15 laps

• 7. Paul Bolton (Beta) 15 laps

• 8. Tim Lewis (TM) 15 laps

• 9. Martin Sandiford (Honda) 15 laps

• 10. Andrew Cripps (Gas Gas) 15 laps

The Tough One – Expert class results

• 1. Justin Wilson (D3-Racing KTM) 15 laps

• 2. Darren Wheeler (Yamaha) 15 laps

• 3. Rob Warner (Yamaha) 14 laps

• 4. Ben Begbie (Gas Gas) 14 laps

• 5. Ashley Wood (Honda) 13 laps

• 6. Andy Hackett (Husqvarna) 13 laps

• 7. Ian Jones (Yamaha) 13 laps

• 8. William Jones (KTM) 13 laps

• 9. Kieran Hankin (Husaberg) 13 laps

• 10. Paul Herbert (Yamaha) 13 laps

Photos: Jonty Edmunds

Issued for and on behalf of David Knight and Triple D Motorsport Ltd by Jonty Edmunds. Any questions or comments may be directed to either [email protected], [email protected] or [email protected]

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