GNCC (Bike): Knight wins on series return

British rider David Knight scored an impressive victory on his seasonal debut in the GNCC championship at Snowshow.

Riding a privateer Kawasaki, defending champion Knight destroyed the opposition at the most difficult race of the season, winning by a margin of over five minutes in the gruelling three-hour event.

“The main thing is to have fun on the bike again,” said Knight who has recently left BMW where he was riding in the British Enduro Championship. “The track wasn’t difficult. I just had to use my head a little bit.”

Knight battled with Makita Suzuki’s Josh Strang for much of the race, until Strang crashed into a deer during the fifth lap of the 20-mile course. That left Knight clear to take a comfortable return victory.

Kawasaki’s Paul Whibley capitalised on Strang’s misfortune to take second place and extend his championship lead, while Nathan Kanney (KTM) equalled his best result of the season in third. Charles Mullins (Suzuki) was fourth and Jim Jarrett (Kawasaki) fifth, while Strang recovered to sixth at the finish.

In the XC2 class Kailub Russell (KTM) was denied a fourth consecutive win by a fine ride from Yamaha rider Jason Thomas, who took seventh place overall and his first class win of the season.

Jake Korn (KTM) finished second, while Russell grabbed third place and extended his points lead as closest rival Cory Buttrick (KTM) could only manage seventh.

GNCC (Bike) results – Round 9, Snowshoe

XC1 Top Ten

1 David Knight, Kawasaki, 3:09.23.125

2 Paul Whibley, Kawasaki, 3:14.56.968

3 Nathan Kanney, KTM, 3:16.26.671

4 Charles Mullins, Suzuki, 3:17.34.421

5 Jim Jarrett, Kawasaki, 3:17.57.953

6 Joshua Strang, Suzuki, 3:18.57.937

7 Jesse Robinson, HSB, 3:24.33.421

8 Kenneth Gilbert, Kawasaki, 3:25.03.140

9 Charles Summey, KTM, 3:26.57.812

10 Kurt Caselli, KTM, 3:27.56.015

XC2

1 Jason Thomas, Yamaha, 3:20.02.109

2 Jake Korn, KTM, 3:25.59.843

3 Kailub Russell, KRM, 3:31.26.578

4 Scott Watkins, Kawasaki, 3:32.05.062

5 Eric Bailey, KTM, 3:39.20.578

6 David Snyder, Yamaha, 3:43.30.312

7 Cory Buttrick, KTM, +1 lap

8 Mat Herrington, Kawasaki, +1 lap

9 Ryan Echols, Kawasaki, +2 laps

10 Patrick Massie, Kawasaki, +2 laps

Championship Standings

XC1

1 Paul Whibley – 214pts

2 Joshua Strang – 201

3 Charles Mullins – 197

4 Jim Jarrett – 160

5 Nathan Kanney – 139

6 Barry Hawk Jr – 123

7 Kurt Caselli – 121

8 Jesse Robinson – 92

9 Glenn Kearney – 91

10 Kenneth Gilbert – 87

XC2

1 Kailub Russell – 247pts

2 Cory Buttrick – 193

3 Jason Thomas – 191

4 Scott Watkins – 175

5 Jake Korn – 146

6 Brian Lawson – 108

7 Robert Santheson III – 108

8 Andrew Matusek – 94

9 Eric Bailey – 90

10 Mat Herrington – 85

Watch GNCC highlights as part of Motors TV’s winter programming.

Andy Wilkinson