JASON Kenny was looking to put a disappointing performance in the world team sprint on Wednesday behind him last night as he bid to reclaim the Keirin title he last won in 2013.

The 26-year-old Boltonian, who has won two Olympic titles in the men's team sprint, was hoping to add a first world gold to that set but admitted a rookie error cost them dear.

Kenny won the three-man, three-lap event at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing and four years later in London, but success has eluded Britain at the annual Track World Championships since Los Angeles in 2005.

The problem on day one in Saint-Quentin-En-Yvelines, near Paris, was that Philip Hindes and Kenny made accommodations for third rider Callum Skinner, who was selected ahead of Kian Emadi.

But the Scot, riding in his first World Championships, could not keep up with the pair, who won London 2012 gold with Sir Chris Hoy.

"Basically me and Phil set off without Callum on our wheel. That was it," Kenny said.

"The aim of the game is to get that third man around three laps as quickly as possible. It's a challenge and we have to adapt as best we can.

"Even Chris (Hoy) got it wrong once or twice. It happens to the best of us.

"It's such a fast event, it's over so quickly, that when it goes wrong it goes wrong all at once and there's not much you can do about it. It's not like you can react to it.

"Also we've got no way of telling if he's on the back. We're just going hell for leather on the front and kind of praying that he's there. Unfortunately he wasn't this time round."

The British trio won the event at last November's Track World Cup in Mexico, but clocked 43.808 seconds to place eighth as hosts France won gold ahead of defending champions New Zealand.

Hindes selected a bigger gear and Kenny left a larger gap than optimal to try to aid Skinner's chances of sticking to their wheels, thus benefitting from a slipstream.

"It wasn't enough unfortunately," added Kenny, who played down Hindes' need to tinker with the start gate, resulting in a delay.

"It's really difficult. Our event's flat out. We don't pace it, we can't plan it, we just go flat out.

"He (Skinner) has got nothing to feel bad about. It's a team event.

"I don't feel we got the best out of ourselves. We all have to take responsibility for that."

Kenny, who picked himself up to compete in the Keirin last night, will also compete in the individual sprint tomorrow.