In a freak accident on a road section before the final Extreme Test on Day One at the GP of Chile, a wild dog struck the Husaberg rider. With no chance to avoid the animal, McCanney hit it head on. Crashing hard on the tarmac, he suffered fractures to both his wrist and collarbone and will under go surgery today, Sunday, to correct the injury.

For McCanney, his first taste of EWC competition was shaping up to be a successful one. Competing in the 125 Youth Cup, the Husaberg rider made a perfect start to the weekend by posting the fastest time in his class during the Friday evening Super Test.

In the extremely dry and dusty conditions that were unfamiliar to the Manx rider, McCanney continued to impress throughout Day One on Saturday. Setting the second fastest time in the Cross Test and Extreme Test on lap one, he then the won the technical Enduro Test to lead his class. Winning the following Cross Test and finishing no lower than second in the remaining three tests he looked all but assured of a winning result. And with Jamie’s brother Danny also finishing second in Enduro Junior it would have marked an incredible start to the season for the Manx brothers.

“It was a freak accident,” confirmed Danny later that evening. “On the road section leading up to the final Extreme Test a dog ran straight out in front of him – he had no chance of avoiding it. He’s broken a bone in his wrist and cracked his collarbone. He will undergo surgery on Sunday morning and hopes to be out of hospital by Monday.At the moment he plans to travel with us to the GP of Argentina and then return home.”