McAMS Yamaha retains Mackenzie, O’Halloran for BSB 2020

The 2020 Bennetts British Superbike Championship continues to take shape with the confirmation McAMS Yamaha has retained the services of both Tarran Mackenzie and Jason O’Halloran.

Announced following confirmation during the most recent Oulton Park BSB round that Mackenzie will compete in the 2019 BSB Title Showdown for the first time, McAMS is preferring continuity with his rider line-up as it prepares to take delivery of the new Yamaah YZF-R1 superbike.

After scoring three wins with Josh Brookes in 2018 on the way to fourth overall, McAMS Yamaha has endured a mixed 2019 campaign with both Mackenzie and O’Halloran hampered by injuries but showing flashes of performance at various stages of the year.

Culminating in Mackenzie – who scored his first win at Silverstone at the start of the year – to get a renewed shot at the title during the final three rounds, he is excited for what will be his third season with the factory-backed Yamaha squad.

“I’m really happy to stay with McAMS Yamaha for the third year running. Continuity is important for me and it’s something that helped us take a step forward this year. 2019 has been fairly good, we’ve been able to run at the front regularly and it’s only the injury that’s held us back in the middle part of the year.

“It’s really exciting to have a new YZF-R1 coming for next year, the guys have already had one on the dyno and the improvements on the 2019 bike look promising at this stage, especially in regard to mid-range power which should help us next year. I’m happy to get my 2020 deal signed and out of the way early so I can now focus on the last three rounds and ending the year in the best possible way.”

His first season on Yamaha machinery after several seasons with Honda, it’s been a tough season for O’Halloran but he believes early confirmation of his 2020 BSB deal will spur him on to renewed success next season.

“I’m really happy to stay with the team again for next year. This season hasn’t panned out how I wanted it to given we’ve had two separate injuries, one at the start of the year and now the shoulder. It’s been frustrating as it’s the first year where I feel the potential of the bike and myself hasn’t been maximised.

From a positive point of view that means there’s more to come, especially as I’m really enjoying riding the Yamaha and even though I’m struggling with my shoulder, the results are still encouraging. I’ve a lot of time for Steve and the team so I’m glad to be staying on and with a new R1 on the way hopefully there’s another step for us to take in 2020.

“The focus for me now is to get fit and healthy for 2020 and then we can learn from our mistakes, put them into practice and have a stronger year with the new bike.”

While the 2019 BSB title is still up for grabs with Mackenzie – who has reached the Showdown despite missing two rounds this year due to injury – McAMS Yamaha boss Steve Rogers is looking forward to getting his hands on the all-new R1 for 2020.

“2020 should be even better for us with the new YZF-R1, we’ve done a bit of work on the bike already and the changes are far more significant than we first thought so it’s looking really promising. We can already fight at the front, but if the bike takes another step and we learn from some of the mistakes from this year, hopefully things will be a little simpler!"

McAMS Yamaha is the second team to confirm its 2020 BSB plans after Tommy Bridewell was confirmed with the Oxford Racing Ducati team. Scott Redding, meanwhile, will leave the leading Paul Bird Motorsport Ducati team after landing a WorldSBK deal.