Technical problems end McCanney and Keenan's ISDE hopes in Portugal

Jamie McCanney and Jack Keenan were both forced to retire from the 100th International Six Days Enduro in Portugal on Tuesday, 13 October, after technical problems with their bikes, according to Isle of Man Today.

The ACU British team announced the retirements in two separate Facebook posts. McCanney, riding in the main Trophy contest, was the first to go out. Keenan, a member of the Junior Trophy team, followed a short time later.

The team later confirmed that Nieve Holmes, a member of the women’s team, had also suffered a technical problem.

“That’s all three Trophy teams out of contention now for Great Britain. We are more than devastated,” the team said. Team management stressed that the rest of the combined British squad would continue to the end of the six-day event.

Dusty conditions

Isle of Man Today reported that conditions in the Alentejo region were extremely dry and dusty, and that there were concerns about dust getting into the engines. The two Manxmen were riding near-identical 450cc Triumphs.

Promising start

The retirements came after a solid opening day for the British teams on Monday. In the main Trophy contest, Nathan Watson was the leading British rider in ninth overall, with Brad Freeman 13th and McCanney 19th. Fellow Manxman Jed Etchells also rode for the team, on a 350cc Husqvarna four-stroke that was unfamiliar to him.

On combined times, Great Britain were fourth after day one, behind Italy, France and Sweden and well clear of Spain.

In the Junior Trophy, Great Britain were ninth after the first day. Keenan was the team’s second-best rider in 65th overall, behind Sam Hughes and ahead of Callum Hughes.

Three Manx riders, Orry Millward, Mike Turner and Gary Flowers, are competing for Southern MCC in the club team contest. They were 70th of 93 teams at the end of day one, with Millward the quickest of the three.