BSB: Taylor Mackenzie wins at Darley Moor on Bathams Racing's BMW M1000RR

Taylor Mackenzie made his return to Bathams Racing at Darley Moor over the weekend and secured the all-new BMW M1000RR’s maiden victory on its global racing debut. 

Following a successful YouTube fundraising campaign, created after losing his ride at SYNETIQ BMW, Mackenzie re-joined Michael Rutter’s Bathams Racing outfit ahead of the 2021 Pirelli National Superstock season. Mackenzie also raced for the team in 2019, finishing runner-up to new teammate Richard Cooper. 

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Eager to get to grips with the M1000RR, Mackenzie and the team entered round two of the Darley Moor MCRCC Championship. Mackenzie duly won his first race at the Derbyshire circuit, before experimenting with the range of settings available on the new bike.

“It’s been great to get back on a race bike, especially one as trick as the new M1000RR,” Mackenzie said. “There’s a lot of things different about it compared to the S1000RR that I rode for the team in 2019, so it was good to get started on learning how it responds to changes.

“The main talking point about the bike is its wings, and all I can say is that I definitely noticed a difference to how the bike feels at high speed which I’m sure will help at some circuits. But for now, I’m just counting down the days before I can ride it again.”

Rutter – riding the team’s current S1000RR machine – made it a double podium for Bathams Racing in the first race with a third-place finish, before taking a further two podiums in second place. 

“The racing at Darley Moor was just brilliant and a lot of fun. Even 32 years after I started racing, lining up on a grid waiting for the race to start is still the best feeling ever,” Rutter added.

“I only did one race last season at Brands Hatch, so it’s safe to say I wasn’t at my best; it’s been about 18months since I did any regular racing and I’m not getting any younger! I really should know better, and wish I was 10 years younger!” 

The first official BSB pre-season test takes place at Silverstone on April 28-29, followed by a three-test test at Snetterton the following week (May 4-6). The opening round of the 2021 is due to take place at Oulton Park on June 25-27.