Jack Keenan limbered up for his ISDE debut in Portugal with his third overall victory in Ramsey MCC’s Circuit of Mann last weekend.

The 11th annual event formed the final two rounds of the 2026 ACU British Bike Rally Championship, which Keenan does not contest, but it was decisive for the Hillier-Rees brothers of Maesteg, South Wales.

After three years of trying to win the British Rally Championship overall on a singles adventure bike, Harry Hillier-Rees finally cracked it with his 600cc AJP, while brother Mark topped the twins on his 800cc Kove, runner-up overall.

Motorcycle sidecars
The sidecars were at the rear of the field for the Sulby test on Sunday, by which time conditions had deteriorated somewhat. Alun Davies and James Ferguson of Wales won quite comfortably, having missed out by a fraction of a second on Saturday (John Watterson)

Having now set off on the long haul to Grândola to prepare for the International Six Days Enduro, when he will represent Great Britain in the Junior Trophy class, 20-year-old Keenan set a hot pace on the 350cc Gas Gas from the very first test - within earshot of the family home at St Jude’s.

The 2.8-mile blast round the peripherals of a huge 52-acre stubblefield saw Keenan average an impressive 55mph. The quickest top speed was allegedly an eye-watering 95mph by RAW Enduro’s Wayne Braybrook on the 700cc Yamaha Tenere.

Keenan was super consistent - 4m 01s on lap one, 4m 00s lap two - likewise 5m 31s and 5m 33s for the considerably more technical run between the trees in Tholt-y-Will plantation.

SOlo enduro
Experienced former ISDE gold medallist Russell Millward finished fourth on Saturday and runner-up in Sunday morning's rain storm on the 350 KTM (JW) (John Watterson)

At the end of what was a generally good day of weather, Keenan led fellow former Circuit of Mann winner Jordan Corkill (350 KTM) by 1m 03s, with hard-trying Ash Kelly (250 Triumph) third at another 22s. Russ Millward made it four locals in the top four, 26s down on Kelly with the 450 KTM.

Harry Hillier-Rees was fifth overall and first of the championship contenders ahead of the Husqvarnas of Jason Rees and Charles Young.

Leading British female enduro rider, Libby Tett of Worcestershire, rode well to end the day 11th overall on her 250 TM.

Other locals in the mix were Kieran Ackers (ninth), Aaron Watson (10th), Mike Turner (13th) and Steve Teare (15th) - Ackers, Watson and Teare second, third and fourth in E2.

Early-morning rain on Sunday made the going really hard, but clear of the course initially held with the schedule with the exception of dropping back-to-back tests at Sulby.

Some indication of the deterioration of the stubblefield can be seen by the fact that Keenan was the only rider to go sub-five minutes, but his time of 4m 54s was 54s slower than his best on Saturday.

Next best was Millward in 5m 12s, with Corkill a non-starter after aggravating the knee injury he suffered in the national class of the WorldGP in Wales a couple of months ago.

Conditions were so bad in areas that the decision was made to halt the event at the completion of the long 80-mile lap, including the Tholty test, cutting out the shorter half-lap.

Keenan’s winning margin was 55s over Millward, with Kelly, part of Southern MCC’s ISDE team, pushing hard for third.

Other locals in the top-10 were Watson (seventh), Turner (ninth) - also heading to Portugal as a member of the Southern team - and the ever-improving Ackers in 10th.

The leading two British Enduro Championship sidecars were separated by a fraction of a second on Saturday, but Alun Davies/James Ferguson gained revenge over David Williams/Neil James on day two.

Ramsey MCC wishes to thank all the marshals, officials and landowners.