Danny Kent gets suspended sentence for carrying knife

UPDATE: Danny Kent has lost his BSB ride as a result of the court case.

“Danny was today given a suspended sentence by a magistrates court and we cannot condone criminal activity of any nature,” said Bike Devil MV Agusta UK team principal Dave Tyson. “He has been released from any further obligations he had with us.”

Danny Kent's troubled run since winning the 2015 Moto3 World Championship has taken a further twist after being handed a suspended jail sentence 'for carrying a knife during an altercation in a car park'.

The BBC reports that a scuffle broke out between Kent, his brother and a 63-year-old man in Tetbury on March 7.

The 63-year-old had been walking his dog when he heard a commotion in a block of flats and saw two men run past.

A confrontation with Kent's brother then followed.

Kent, who said he and his brother had been collecting a debt, 'came across his brother on the floor with the older man pinning him down so he thought his brother was a victim of an assault and pushed him off' after which a knife was found on the ground.

The eight-time grand prix winner admitted to having the kitchen knife, which had a 6-inch blade, but 'it was not for any improper purpose - he uses it to open boxes in connection with his work'.

Kent, who pleaded guilty at Cheltenham Magistrates' Court, said: "I would like to apologise to the court."

The Englishman, the first British road racing world champion since Barry Sheene in 1977, was handed a four-month jail sentence suspended for 12 months.

Kent rose to Moto2 with Kiefer on the back of his historic Moto3 title victory, but didn't finish higher than sixth and left the team at the start of the following season.

After a scattering of Moto2 and Moto3 appearances, Kent made a comeback with Speed Up for 2018, but only finished in the points twice by the time he was dropped.

Kent's team-mate was Fabio Quartararo, who took a race victory with Speed Up and was signed by Petronas Yamaha for MotoGP this season.

Meanwhile, the Englishman, 25, recently returned to the racetrack on an MV Agusta for the Bike Devil Sweda team in BSB.