David has been suffering for a while with hip pain however, it has now been confirmed that surgery is required and it is uncertain how long the recovery time will be.
David made the difficult but sensible decision to withdraw from the team knowing that under the new ‘all to count’ rules that he could not risk starting the event unfit or still recovering.
David will be replaced by Welshman Jamie Lewis (Yamaha) who has been in the British ISDE Trophy team twice before, in 2013 in Sardinia and 2015 in Slovakia, gaining gold medals on both occasions.
David Knight: “I’m gutted, I really enjoyed last year’s ISDE and wanted to do this year’s but with the operation on the horizon I didn’t know if I could be up to full fitness in time to give my best performance for the team. I wish my replacement Jamie Lewis and the remainder of the team the very best of luck.”
Jamie Lewis: “It’s not nice to hear of another rider being injured, I have had my fair share, and I wish David a speedy recovery, but I am delighted to be filling his position in the Trophy team, I really enjoyed the last two ISDEs I have competed in and I think it’s an event that suits me, I feel I’m as fit and healthy as I have been for a long time and will hopefully step up and fill the gap and do Great Britain and DK proud.”
ACU British ISDE Team Manager Andrew ‘Dusty’ Martin: “There’s not a lot I can add to what David and Jamie have said, I’m glad we have strength in depth in this country in that I can call on such a strong rider as Jamie when these unfortunate things happen. I wish David a speedy recovery and will do my best to ensure all the riders in our Trophy team get given the best support in order for them to achieve the results I know we are capable of achieving.”
