Red Bull KTM Off Road Race Team rider David Knight has claimed his 
fourth win of the 08 US Grand National Cross Country Series following 
victory at the Loretta Lynns GNCC. The third US GNCC event in a row 
in which Knights claimed the top step of the podium, victory at round 
five of the 13 event championship was made all the harder due to a 
flying rock from the rear wheel of a lapped rider hitting the Manxman 
in the throat. Despite being struck in the windpipe by the rock on lap 
two Knight managed to move himself back into the lead of the race 
before claiming a comfortable win.

Firing his KTM into life the minute the starters flag dropped Knight 
started better than he had at the last three rounds of the US GNCC 
championship and was well placed as he exited the first few corners. 
Not wanting to risk anything he then eased himself into the race by 
taking things steadily for a few miles before then working his way 
forwards. Once out front David opened up a 20 second lead before 
running into trouble on lap two.

Following a rider he was about to lap Knight found himself hit in the 
windpipe by a flying rock. Initially struggling to breath before 
finding that he was having troubles swallowing David opted to slow his 
pace for a short while in order to make sure he wasnt seriously hurt. 
Overtaken at this stage by Australian Shane Watts Knight quickly found 
his feet once again and past the former GNCC champion before pulling 
away from his XC1 Pro class rivals.

Come the end of the penultimate lap Knight was over one-minute ahead 
of second placed rider Joshua Strang, which is how the race ended as 
Knight claimed his fourth win of the series so far.

Now with four wins and one runner-up finish to his credit David Knight 
leads the 08 US GNCC series by 44 points. The sixth round of the 
series  The John Penton GNCC, takes place on May 11 in Millfield, 
Ohio after which three more rounds follow before the championships 
two-month summer break.

David Knight: Its great to have got another win. And I got a good 
start for a change. I took things pretty steadily after the first few 
corners and a few riders got past me, which I wasnt too worried 
about. I had a little bit of arm pump but I managed to pass the riders 
that were ahead of me and opened up about a 20 second lead quite 
quickly.

                   On the second lap a rock from a lapped rider hit 
my windpipe, which wasnt painful but made it hard to breath for a 
while. I was struggling for a while and decided to slow down a bit. 
Thats when Wattsy past me. I followed him for a while, got my breath 
back, and then caught right up to him. He was having a hard time 
passing one lapper, which is when I past him. He went one side, I went 
the other, and when we past him Wattsy it my bike and went down.

                   I felt good again then and put in a couple of good 
laps before taking it steady on the final lap. The track conditions 
were good and although I didnt win by much more than a minute I was 
pleased with my result. It was a good day, and moving further ahead in 
the championship is always good.

Results  US GNCC 08 Rnd 5, XC1 Pro class

1.     David Knight (Red Bull KTM Off Road Race Team)

2.     Josh Strang (Suzuki)

3.     Charlie Mullins (Suzuki)

4.     Glenn Kearney (Husqvarna)

5.     Nathan Kanney (KTM)

6.     Paul Whibley (Suzuki)

7.     Jason Raines (Yamaha)

8.     Jimmy Jarrett (Suzuki)

9.     Garrett Edmisten (Kawasaki)

10.  Jesse Robinson (Kawasaki)

www.knighter.net