Knighter Dominated RHL Weston Beach Race

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October 20, 2010 in Motorsport

Knighter Dominated RHL Weston Beach Race

Once again for the third day running Weston Super Mare was graced with perfect sunny weather conditions for the 28th RHL Weston Beach Race. Sunday's action was started with the 85cc race; in front of a packed crowd the youngsters hit the sand to tackle the tiresome course. Young Todd Kellett led for the majority of the race put a mechanical problem forced him to pull out with only 20 minutes to go handing the lead to Ben Watson.

Ben managed to take the overall honours over the hour and a half race, his fourth win in the junior class at the Beach Race to date, he commented "It was a really good race I tried to ride as smooth as I possibly could without causing myself any problems. It was a bit of a problem because I had no front or back brake so I had to try and ride as steady as possible so not to cause any more damage. I'm really pleased to have taken the overall win as there were a few problems afterwards but they got it sorted out in the end which is great."

It was David Knight once again in the adult solo class that stole the show completely as he took a stunning fourth solo win on his factory KTM in the adult race lapping everyone on the field apart from second place finisher Jamie Lewis, he secured the win by 7:22:57 and completed 22 laps from top British Motocross star Jamie Lewis riding the Nigel Arnold PAR Homes Honda with PAR Homes youngster Luke Hawkins in third place.

Just under 500 solo riders took to the track at 1pm after being led down to the beach by RHL promoter Gareth Hockey. They were let loose onto the track just after 1pm and had three hours to tackle the four and a half mile course. David Knight as always meant business and shot out the gate early on and was eager to pull a lead in the opening stages. He was tackled by youngster Scott Elderfield who briefly took the lead for some of the opening lap. This was short lived when the man machine Knighter used the full power of his factory KTM down the straight on the second lap and pulled a 30 second lead on lap two from Jamie Lewis with Elderfield in third.

At the one hour stage David Knight had stretched his lead to 2 mins and 15 seconds from motocross racers Jamie Lewis, Shane Carless, Tom Church and Luke Hawkins. At the eight lap stage it was the Manxman Knighter still leading the pack from CCM Tom Church after Jamie Lewis stopped for fuel after lap seven.

At the half way stage, an hour and a half in it was still David Knight from Tom Church, Jamie Lewis, Shane Carless, Luke Hawkins, Danny McCanney, Aaron Poolman, Jamie McCanney, Rick De Feu and Joe Jones.

CCM rider Tom Church suffered a bike problem in the closing stages of the race having been in second position for the majority of the race. Church who was five minutes down on Knight went out at 2 hours and 36 minutes handing second place to Jamie Lewis. Knight at this stage had a 6.12.92 lead over Lewis and had lapped the majority of the field at least once.

The burley giant Knight further stretched his lead in the closing stages and dominated the field proving why he was a worthy World Champion and totally showed his form at the Beach Race wowing the massive crowd who had turned out on the day to watch the riders battling it out over the fierce course.

The final top ten consisted of three Manxmen with Knighter taking the win but also brothers Danny and Jamie McCanney taking a fantastic fifth and sixth place overall. The final top ten was David Knight, Jamie Lewis, Luke Hawkins, Aaron Poolman, Danny McCanney, Jamie McCanney, Rick De Feu, Joe Jones, Tom Healey and Nigel Kibble.

Top road racer on the day was Chris Walker in 11th place and Ty Kellett who made a stunning return after his crash last year finished in 38th place on his 125.

Jack Twentyman won the over 40's class, he said "It's my 48th Birthday today and the organisers gave me number 48 as my riding number, it was obviously lucky but a great birthday present which I'll no doubt be feeling for the next week! I would like to extend my thanks to Gareth Hockey and his team for coming back and running it again as it wouldn't be the same without it."

Josh Coppins suffered bike problems early on in the race in the opening lap, he said "I'm gutted as I really wanted to go back to New Zealand with a complete Weston under my belt, this was my third time and my second DNF and the race I did finish was cut short. The bike was suffering a misfire after the first lap, we managed to clear the problem but only briefly and I managed three more laps after that before I had to retire."

It was Luke Hawkins who was super impressive; the 16-year-old has never competed in the Beach Race before and finished in a fantastic third place. He said "I can't believe I finished on the podium the first time here I wasn't expecting that at all. I'd set myself a realistic target of top ten so to get on the box is unreal. I thought I would struggle with the time but I only really started to get tired in the final few laps. The track is unreal and I tried not to do anything stupid and just get my head down and get on with it. I really enjoyed the whole thing and pleased I got such a good result for all the people that have helped me this year, it's a good way to end the season."

Second placed man was Welshman Jamie Lewis, an emotional Jamie said "I'm a bit gutted not to have been able to push Knighter a little harder but he is an exceptional rider and rode very well today. I had a really good race, the track was mega and I managed to get a good start. I had gear box problems and I got stuck in fourth gear for the final few laps so I had to try and nurse her home without doing any more damage. It was a hard race and I hope I'm getting nearer and nearer to that win that I so desperately want."

32-year-old winner David Knight was over the moon with his fourth solo win saying "I can honestly say that's the first Beach Race I've had without any major bike problems. My KTM run so smooth it was just mega, I couldn't have asked for more from them. The smallest thing I had, was a dragging clutch for a bit but that seemed to sort itself out. It was mega fun out there, the weather was awesome and the track was great. I would like to thank Gareth Hockey and all involved for the work that they have put into this over the past year after the problems that they had last year, it can't have been easy but it was fantastic this year and pleased for him and his team. Hopefully I'll be back again next year to have another shot at it!"

RHL Promoter of the 2010 Weston Beach Race commented "This year was a big test for us and how we run the Beach Race. We couldn't have asked for better and I would just like to extend a huge thank you to all the people who have supported RHL over the past year, the riders, fans, marshals and everyone who has helped make this happen this year. I hope it has put a few things to rest and that everyone enjoyed themselves and had a good weekend and will come back in 2011. Thanks again."

Results 85 cc Class

Ben Watson

Ben Howell

Jay Thomas KTM

Corie Southwood Suzuki

Tom Neal KTM

Robert Hales Kawasaki

Curtis Blamey Honda

Jack Mac KTM

Aaron O'Mahoney Honda

Ashley Bowden Honda

Adult Solo Results