Knight was riding the KTM 530 EXC for the first time

David Knight made a winning start to the defence of his British Sprint Enduro title in the challenging Mid-Wales weather at the weekend.

The Manx KTM rider dominated the opening day, winning five out of the six specialist tests to lead Tom Sagar by one-and-a-half minutes.

Sagar turned the table on a rain-hit second day, to take the victory over Knight by 14 seconds.

Another KTM rider, Greg Evans, finished third on both days.

Knight said he enjoyed in the testing conditions: "It's a little disappointing not to have won the second day but it's been good to ride in conditions that we don't get anymore.

"I love riding real Enduro tests no matter what the weather is. I really enjoyed it.

"The season's underway now so I am looking forward to the first round of the British Enduro Championship next week."

There were ruts that would swallow your entire bike. But it was great to win the class Alex Rockwell

Fellow Isle of Man riders Danny McCanney and Alex Rockwell also made winning starts to their campaigns.

McCanney, 19, took a well deserved overall victory in the Under-23, E3 class.

The Gas Gas UK rider is also defending his title and told BBC Isle of Man he could not have asked for a better start.

"It went really well - they were really testing conditions and I came through it well," he said.

Midwest Husaberg rider Rockwell claimed a comfortable win in the U23, E2 class.

The 21-year-old is still recovering from a back injury and described the racing conditions as desperate.

"There were ruts that would swallow your entire bike," he said. "But it was great to win the class."

All three riders will now compete in the opening round of the British Enduro Championship on Saturday.

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