Danny McCanney (Gas Gas)

McCANNEY ON THE PODIUM AT ROUND ONE OF 2012 BRITISH ENDURO CHAMPIONSHIP

Gas Gasʼs Danny McCanney found himself battling the elements as much as fellow competitors again this weekend as wintry conditions attacked the first round of the 2012 ACU Doodson British Enduro Championship in Wales. Regardless McCanney fought hard to finish an impressive third place outright on both days of the Abbey Enduro, beaten only by three-time World champion David Knight and British E2 Champion Tom Sagar.

Rain, low temperatures and high winds on day one followed by snow, ice and low temperatures on day two made for especially uncomfortable riding and slick, grip-less special tests. In the conditions, McCanney again elected to ride his stock practice bike, saving his race bike for better conditions. All the same McCanney served warning on the BEC paddock by racing to within three-seconds of Knight on the opening test. Always in the running both days, McCanney narrowly missed out on the runner-up on day two when he crashed on the last test, gifting the place to Sagar by a mere three seconds.

Danny McCanney: “That was a tough weekendʼs racing. It was a good event, well run and the course was good, but the weather was very harsh. Iʼm pleased with my two rides, everything went well, the only thing Iʼd change was the stupid crash in the last test of the weekend. “Iʼve come away third overall, second E3 and Iʼm leading the Under 23s. For a season start – and bearing in mind just how tough it was out there – Iʼm pretty happy with that. Thereʼs a long season ahead.”

Steve Plain, team manager: “This was a very tough weekend for the team. You need to have done your homework with lots of preparation to keep a rider comfortable in these conditions, with plenty of spare dry kit – and knowing that the bike is well waterproofed, too, so both rider and bike make the finish. “Weʼre happy that again the stock Gas Gas EC300 Racing was well up to the job, never missing a beat and giving Danny plenty of opportunity to level with world-class riders like David and Tom.”

Congratulations also to Andrew Edwards, who as a privateer entrant rode to 10th place in the Championship E2 class each day riding a stock 2012 Gas Gas EC250 Racing. Danny McCanneyʼs next event will be rounds three and four of the British Sprint Enduro Championship on March 10-11 at Llangrove in Monmouth.