The line-up for rounds two and three of the Italian National Enduro Championship was akin to a mini-EnduroGP in Sicily at the weekend.

Daniel McCanney was at the sharp-end of the action on the factory Sherco, with younger sibling Jamie getting back into the feel of things after almost two years out of traditional enduro riding.

Manx teenager Jed Etchells was also in action, producing some good tests times on a 250cc four-stroke Fantic.

Based in Custonaci on the western side of the island, the ground was hard as concrete, as well as rocky on mule tracks in the middle of olive trees.

The only notable absentee from the entry was world champion Steve Holcombe, who was unwell, but his Beta team-mate Brad Freeman was closely matched by Danny McCanney on both days.

Each round consisted of three special tests (enduro, extreme and cross-country) per lap, with four laps per day.

Australia’s Will Ruprecht clearly enjoyed the going, winning both days first time out on the factory TM, ably supported by team-mate Matteo Cavallo. Fellow countryman Lorenzo Macoritto made it a TM hat-trick on Sunday.

Daniel McCanney was seventh overall on Saturday and sixth on Sunday, clearly beginning to get to grips with the Sherco later in the proceedings. He scored two second-fastest times in the closing stages on day two - finishing less than two tenths of a second off Ruprecht in the top spot on the concluding test.

Freeman was one place ahead of Danny on Saturday, but three spots behind him on Sunday.

Riding the JET team’s Husqvarna 300 TEi for the first time in anger, Jamie McCanney was 12th on Saturday and 13th on Sunday, when he had a best of fourth fastest on one test.

Young Jed Etchells also showed steady improvement on his four-stroke Yamaha engined machine, finishing 29th overall on day one and 26th on day two out of a field of 80 riders.

’Nice weekend in Sicily,’ said Danny. ’Happy with the way I rode especially in those conditions I don’t like as much. Thanks to all the team at Sherco Racing Factory.’

Jamie said: ’Steady weekend working back into enduro life!

’Tests were pretty brutal and I would have liked a bit more time on the bike before lining up, but there is no better way to get back to speed than racing!

’Looking forward to progressing over the next couple of weeks and come out swinging a bit more next round. ß??

’Big thanks to @lucacastellana & @jolly_enduro_team.’

l Rounds four and five of the Italian championship will be in the picturesque area of Lake Piediluco, straddling the Provinces of Terni and Umbria on April 24-25.