The McAMS Yamaha team are raring to go ahead of this weekend’s return to Silverstone, as Jason O'Halloran and Tarran Mackenzie gear up for rounds 7/8/9 of the 2020 Bennetts British Superbike Championship.
The 1.6-mile national circuit hosts the next three races on the calendar and McAMS Yamaha are hoping for a strong weekend given their pace at the venue last year.
Tarran Mackenzie claimed his first Bennetts BSB victory at Silverstone last year, and teammate Jason O’Halloran was also rapid on the National layout, with the pair inseparable whilst battling for victory. It was too close in the opening race of the season last year, but the team are all set to return for the next three races of the season.
2020 got off to a strong start for the team at Donington Park with O’Halloran taking pole position and two rostrum finishes in the opening races, but both he and Mackenzie struggled to find a feeling with the 2020 YZF-R1 at Snetterton until the final race, which saw both riders take a significant step forward.
Fighting for the podium in the final race, Mackenzie was confident his side of the garage had made a breakthrough and is looking to prove that as he returns to the scene of both his first BSB podium and victory. Having already stood on the podium this year, O’Halloran is determined to get back to the front at a circuit, which should play to the strengths of the YZF-R1.
O'Halloran said: "We've had a mixed start to the year with the podiums at Donington and then a tougher weekend at Snetterton, but I am feeling confident going into Silverstone. Last year we were very strong on the Silverstone National track and the bike should be good there this year too. At Donington I was able to fight at the front, so I want to get back to that stage this weekend and get back on the podium where I know we should be."
Mackenzie said: "The first couple of rounds were a bit challenging, but towards the end of the weekend at Snetterton I found a much better feeling with the bike and was able to fight in the leading group. Silverstone is a circuit I really enjoy, I took my first BSB podium there in 2018 and then my first win there last year, so hopefully we can take the confidence and feeling we found at Snetterton through to this weekend and built on that to kickstart our season as while we've got some important points on the board so far, we want to be fighting for the podium."