SHAKEN but not bruised, Bridgetown’s Nathian Knight has returned home after competing in the Australian Four Day Enduro, (A4DE) which was held in Dungog, NSW.
The A4DE Australian championship event is seen as one of the toughest, longest and highest recognized events in the southern hemisphere, which endurance riders aspire to compete in and finish, and pro riders strive to win.
"It was probably one of the toughest races I have ever been in."
- Nathian Knight
The event is run in a similar format to that of a car rally. Each rider will complete more than 250km of transport (trail) sections and six special test (speed) sections with a total of between 800–1,000 km over three days. A motocross is the final special test on day four, with a total of around 25 hours on the bike.
The biggest date on the Australian Enduro calendar, not only does the event attract top pro riders with factory support who are now competing on the world stage, but it also brings many other competitors, along with all their support crew members, to help get them through all the controls (checkpoints) during each day.
“As far as racing goes, it was probably one of the toughest races I have ever been in,” Knight said.
“Conditions were very trying. It was a four day race, with a prologue in front of that, so you have a total of five full days of riding. There were 11 West Aussies there to represent this state–I managed to get to fourth highest finish out of the West Australians in my class, and I ended up 13th position in the E3 class. The classes are made from the bike size not your rider capability, E3 is the biggest of the bikes,” he said.
“I managed to get through the four days racing without any time penalties, there was only two of us from WA who got through without time penalties, so I was pretty proud of that. The medals are based on percentages and time, as they were last year, and I managed to get a bronze medal again, as last year,” he said.
“The race was hard, and trying to prepare for it here in WA practicing on local hills etc, was nothing compared to the course–they don’t race hills, they race mountains.
“The race started off with about 300 competitors, but only 240 finished. I had a few spills, but spills are part of racing. Being able to race with world class riders is definitely worth all the effort. I am now looking forward to the big challenge next year when the Enduro is run in Tasmania.
“I would like to thank my family and friends for all their support, and the local businesses who helped me get to NSW, especially my major sponsors SG Mining, Bridge Pump Company and Talison Mines. Their support, and the team who travelled with me, certainly helped to make it all possible,” Knight said.
