David Knight and Suzuki enjoyed a successful outing at last weekend’s Weston Beach Race, finishing second in the ATV race on Saturday before taking the chequered flag in sixth place in Sunday’s solo race.
At the 36th running of the annual event - which sees riders from around the world tackle one of the toughest tracks on the planet, with some dunes around the 7km lap topping 15 metres in height - the four-time World Enduro champion raced the new KingQuad 750 to a podium finish alongside his nephew Tom Knight, finishing second in a field of over 400 other quads.
With little rest in between races, Knight was back in action on Sunday racing the new RM-Z450 in the solo class. Racing with SR75 World Team Suzuki, who have lifted three of the last four Arenacross titles with Thomas Ramette aboard an RM-Z450, Knight made a good start but found himself stuck behind another rider on the first dune on the opening lap.
Settling into a rhythm he climbed as high as second but after the fuel stop the former-Weston winner struggled with his neck, which seized; the result of suffering from a broken back just two months prior. However, he continued valiantly and finished in an incredible sixth place.
David Knight “The weekend was a lot of fun. In the ATV race the KingQuad we used is designed for agricultural purposes and to be reliable, which allowed me to go right up the dunes, I didn’t get stuck once. Throughout the three-hour race there was not a single issue which made it a safe and enjoyable race for Tom and myself, and we got second.
“In the solo race on the RM-Z450 I got away from the start well but got stuck on the very first dune after the straight. There was a lot of carnage on the second lap so I just let things settle down. I felt I was riding well until the first fuel stop and then my neck seized up. I couldn’t lift my head up and properly look ahead. For the last hour and 20 minutes I was just circulating. I dropped a couple of places but I’m pleased with sixth overall. The RM-Z450 was spot on, easy to ride, and didn’t miss a beat, and I couldn’t ask for more.”
Find out more about the RM-Z450 here. For information on the KingQuad 750, click here.