Tarran Mackenzie overcame injury at the last round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship to bounce back in winning style to claim a miraculous victory at Silverstone, and the McAMS Yamaha rider is determined to carry his winning momentum in the Showdown this weekend at Oulton Park.
Mackenzie was leading the opening race of the weekend when he crashed out on the penultimate lap and subsequently was collected by his teammate Jason O'Halloran. Mackenzie sustained a fracture to the metatarsal of his left hand, but miraculously claimed a victory and a second place in the final two races of the main season on Sunday.
“Silverstone was a complete rollercoaster of emotions really,” said Mackenzie. “I went to bed on the Saturday night hopeful that I would be passed fit to ride to try in warm up. I had the assessments and then I topped warm up, but it is one thing being able to ride, but to be on the podium and win was something else and I didn’t expect it at all.
“It was just a rollercoaster of ups and downs – there is no other way to explain it really, so to end the weekend on a high and score some important podium points for the championship meant I didn’t lose anything to Jason, whilst still taking them off everyone else.
“It was an alright weekend in the end and I was lucky to get away with the injuries I did. It obviously isn’t ideal but it could have been a lot worse as a crash like that could have ended my season. To bounce back was a good feeling!”
Ahead of the Showdown, Mackenzie trails his championship-leading teammate by 30 points, but with a maximum of 225 points still available for the taking, he is ready to take the fight down to the finale.
“I think Jason had a very strong start to the year and I have been playing a bit of catch up really as I didn’t hit the ground running quite as hard as he did,” reflected Mackenzie.
“I was happy with the weekend we had at Brands Hatch and it shows when everything is right I can really take the fight to Jason, and the same at Donington Park, when I pulled out the lead then have that taken down to a final sprint and still managing to win was a real confidence booster. Cadwell Park knocked me back a little bit with the crash as I didn’t race with the injury, and at that point Jason had a great weekend.
“I didn’t know how I would fare come Snetterton with the broken finger, but to come back and be the strongest rider there and take the most points away on that weekend was a real positive thing. I took that to Silverstone and I always knew I would go all right at Silverstone anyway, and I was confident that I could walk away with a minimum of three podiums, but I wanted three wins really!
Mackenzie’s victory at Silverstone was all the more sweet for his title campaign as he equaled the points score of O’Halloran, and with the same package, he is ready to come out fighting when the Showdown gets underway this weekend.
“To drop right back in the race at Silverstone, whilst Jason was at the front, to close him down by the end of the race, and then have that crash wasn’t ideal,” added Mackenzie. “Then to bounce back and still with my injuries over the past two rounds be strong, if not one of the strongest riders on track, and be on the podium and winning races – I can’t complain about that!
“I know what package Jason has, I know what bike he is on as I have exactly the same and so it is down to the rider at the end of the day. Even with these injuries, to be winning and giving the fight to Jason and everyone else, is only a positive thing. I am hoping these next rounds, maybe not Oulton Park, but certainly, Donington Park and Brands Hatch, when I am stronger once I have had more time for the injury to recover, I can end the season on a high.
“I am approaching the Showdown how I do every race, the good and bad thing for me is that if I make a mistake it doesn’t matter as much as I am 30 points down, whereas for Jason if he makes a mistake it’s all to play for really. I have been in both positions in championships over the years where if you are leading it is great as you can afford to make a mistake as everyone else plays catch up, but also I think where I am and in the position I am in, that I can play each round as I normally would.
“I will give it everything, try and win as many races as possible and the rest will sort itself out. If I am in a position where, something happens and I am closer to the championship lead then maybe I would play it a bit differently but I have just got to take each race as it comes and not change my approach. And see where we are by the end of Sunday after the next three rounds.”