Jamie McCanney has ended his tenure with Yamaha after five years at the top level in enduro and desert rallying.

He rode three seasons in the FIM Enduro World Championship with the Team Outsiders Yamaha Racing set-up, twice finishing runner-up in the E2 class in 2017 and 2018.

During that time he recorded five podium finishes, including two victories.

He then made the transition to Rallye-Raid (desert racing) with a different branch of the same factory-backed Yamaha France team.

At the beginning of 2020, after preparing for several months, McCanney made an extremely strong debut in the Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia.

He gained confidence as the two-week event progressed, ultimately finishing 15th overall and best British rider - second of the first-year rookies.

Over the past 12 months McCanney was employed as both a team member and development rider for Yamaha’s WR450cc single-cylinder rallye-raid machine.

He scored a top-12 finish in Rally Andalucia last September and then prepared for his second assault on the Dakar in Saudi Arabia at the beginning of January.

McCanney got off to a satisfactory start and was in the top-20 overall when his Yamaha hit clutch issues on stage five, causing him to retire.

More reaction in Tuesday’s Isle of Man Examiner.