David Knight has rejoined KTM for the 2011 and 2012 WEC seasons after competing as a support rider in E3 this year. Image: Jonty Edmunds.

David ‘The Knighter’ Knight, who rejoined the Maxxis Enduro World Championship competition this season riding for KTM Farioli as a KTM-supported rider, returns to race orange in 2011 and 2012 as a full factory rider.

The Manx-born rider was in Mattighofen, Austria at KTM’s headquarters this week to put his signature on the new contract, team officials have confirmed.

Playing a similar role as Stefan Everts, who worked intensively with the KTM R&D department on the new 350 SX-F motocross machine, Knight has also been able to provide invaluable input into the development of KTM’s new EXC models.

Like Everts, Knight has been working closely with KTM and his contribution in the development of the next generation of KTM’s Enduro machines will ensure that KTM can provide the racing fraternity with true state-of-the-art racing machines.

Knight, who currently leads the E3 World Championship standings with a 30 points gap over Christophe Nambotin, is enjoying an excellent season and has never been off the podium in the competition’s first five rounds.

He has netted six wins, two seconds and two third places and while there are still 150 points up for grabs in the rounds scheduled for Greece, Turkey and France, Knight is well on the way to seeing his name on the trophy in 2010.

In May this year David also claimed the first ever British Enduro Sprint Championship, wrapping up the title with yet another double victory in Saints Well, Mid Wales in May to indicate that at 32 years-old, he is at the top of his game when it comes to competing against the world elite in riding skills, agility and tactics.

As well as his seven other national titles, Knight is a double World Enduro Champion in 2005 and 2006, GNCC champion in 2007 and 2008, GBXC champion in 2008, AMA Endurocross champion in 2007, and has twice won the Erzberg Extreme.

Knight has also won the U.S. Red Bull Last Man Standing and was overall ISDE winner in 2005.

David previously raced orange in the world championships and also in the USA and his return to the factory team underlines the KTM company’s philosophy of always being ‘Ready to Race’ with the best in the world’s top competitions.