GAS GAS’ DANNY McCANNEY TAKES 1-2 AT NORTHAMPTON TO MAINTAIN LEAD IN UNDER 23 BRITISH SPRINT ENDURO CHAMPIONSHIP

06-06-2011

The young Manxman was again racing his Gas Gas CC300 with great verve, and on the Saturday he cleaned up the Under 23 class by more than a minute. In fact such was his speed he placed second overall for the whole event, pipped only by British Enduro Champion Tom Sagar. McCanney went better still on the Sunday, recording the fastest lap of the day and was within a whisker of an overall victory when he crashed on the last corner of the last test – sacrificing his overall (he placed fourth) and his perfect score in the Under 23s – giving the day win to rival (and fellow Manxman) Alex Rockwell.

McCanney now leads the Under 23 championship by 28 points with just two rounds remaining.

Danny McCanney: “A great event for us, although I could have done without that last corner crash – which was in fact one of many I had. I guess I was trying maybe a little too hard. My Gas Gas is going great, though, this weekend’s event was another fast track that took some aggressive riding – there was grass paddock, a valley, woods, even an extreme section, all in an eight-minute loop – and the Gasser just tore it up. Big thanks to Steve, there, as ever, for his immaculate preparation of the bike and brilliant support during the event.

“So I’m nearly there in this championship, I just need to pick up 23 points over the last two rounds and that would be the title done. You never count your chickens in this game, but the Gasser’s been perfect with seven wins from eight – the missing win being my fault – so it’s just down to me bringing it home now.”

Steve Plain, Gas Gas team manager : “Danny was on fire again this weekend. He could have done well to cool it a little bit, played it safer, and he’d still have had top results, but he’s young and he’s got a point to prove – we can all appreciate where he’s coming from. Besides he makes it an exciting day!

"So I’m very happy. The bike’s running great and Danny is so comfortable with it anything’s possible – as he’s showing every weekend.”

The team’s next event is this weekend (June 4-5) at the second round of the European Enduro Championship in Romania. McCanney sensationally won the first round (in Poland) outright. More of the same this weekend?