Reigning champion Tarran Mackenzie set for BSB return

The McAMS Yamaha rider was forced to miss Silverstone and Oulton Park due to a broken left ankle in a pre-season testing accident but, five weeks after his accident, returned to the track on his R1 for a test at Donington last Thursday.

Mackenzie felt good on the bike and has received the all-clear from his surgeon, but will still need to pass a check by the BSB medical team on Friday morning before taking part in Free Practice for the first time this year.

“It was great to get back on my R1 last week and I felt quite good all things considered,” Mackenzie said. “I’ve seen my surgeon and had some X-Rays and he’s happy with where I’m at so I’m confident I’ll be able to race.

“I’m looking forward to pulling my leathers back on and getting out for my first race of the year.

“I have no expectations, I’m just looking forward to getting back with my team and riding my bike! It will be the first time I’ve raced since Brands Hatch so I am really looking forward to getting back to what I love.”

Team Principal Steve Rodgers added: “It will be nice to have a full garage again this weekend. I know there was some hope of Tarran returning at Oulton, but we always knew it was a long shot.

“This weekend we are fairly sure he will be able to return to action, he's been given the all-clear by his surgeon so if the BSB medical team are happy we should be good to go.

“He hasn't raced since Brands Hatch and has only done 30 laps on the bike since his injury, so we will take it as it comes this weekend - it's early days in terms of his come back.”

With six races already complete, Mackenzie is 102 points behind current title leader Bradley Ray. However, the Showdown format means Mackenzie just needs to break into the top eight by the end of the main season to be among the Title Fighters for the closing three rounds.

Team-mate Jason O’Halloran will start the Brands Hatch weekend sixth in the early standings and still seeking his first podium of the year.

The Australian, who won more races than any other rider last season, has been using the opening rounds to ‘evaluate a number of new parts’ but feels he’s known found a base set-up.

“In the final race at Oulton it felt like we had made some real progress with the bike, so I’m looking forward to continuing that at Donington this weekend,” O’Halloran said.

“So far this year we have worked through a lot and from that we’ve learned quite a bit about our package, in theory this weekend we should be able to hit the ground running and look at only fine-tuning the bike.

“We won at Donington last year so we know it’s a good track for the bike, so hopefully we can get back up the sharp end.”