BSB Brands Hatch: Tarran Mackenzie clinches 2021 British Superbike title

Tarran Mackenzie has secured the 2021 Bennetts British Superbike title after taking a fantastic victory in race two at Brands Hatch.

The McAMS Yamaha rider went bar-to-bar with Tommy Bridewell and was determined to clinch the championship with a victory, and with one race to spare. The duo swapped positions on more than one occasion, and could not be separated.

Race One: Tarran Mackenzie takes victory on Saturday

In the end, Mackenzie made his move down the inside at the final corner on the final lap of the race to clinch a maiden crown – much to the delight of the crowd. The McAMS Yamaha garage erupted with joy, including dad, and three-time BSB champion, Niall Mackenzie.

Looking back at the race, Bridewell initially made a slow start to the race but made his way through into the lead at Surtees on lap. He then began to pull away from the field, as he did at Oulton Park, and opened up a lead of around 1.2 seconds.

However, Mackenzie regrouped and began to close his title rival down. By the start of lap 11, Mackenzie was right on the back of Bridewell. Mackenzie then made his move into Paddock Hill Bend at the start of lap 12, with Bridewell attempting to return the favour on the following lap, only to run in too deep.

The duo almost collided coming out of Stirling’s on lap 14, when Mackenzie had a huge moment on the exit and Bridewell had to react. Bridewell took the lead back at that very corner on the following lap. Not one to give up, Mackenzie kept on pushing his R1 to the very limit and made his move down the inside of Bridewell at the final corner on the final lap to become champion.

With his second place, Bridewell is now level on points with Jason O’Halloran, who completed the podium in third, in the championship standings. The pair are 31 points behind Mackenzie with one race remaining.

Christian Iddon finished fourth and is now fourth in the standings, five points behind Bridewell and O’Halloran. Peter Hickman completed the top five for FHO Racing BMW, ahead of Josh Brookes and Danny Buchan.

Gino Rea was eighth on his Buildbase Suzuki, whilst Glenn Irwin and Kyle Ryde completed the top 10.

Dean Harrison and Bjorn Estment crashed out at Hawthorn Bend on lap five. On lap seven, Rory Skinner, Andrew Irwin and Lee Jackson collided at Druids and crashed out as a result. Brian McCormack returned to the pits and retired at the end of lap nine.

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BSB Brands Hatch: Tarran Mackenzie extends championship lead with race one victory

First published: 16 October 2021 by Josh Close

Tarran Mackenzie has edged closer to a maiden Bennetts British Superbike title after taking victory in the opening race of the weekend at Brands Hatch.

The McAMS Yamaha rider took the lead away from early race leader Christian Iddon heading into Paddock Hill Bend on lap nine, with Iddon attempting an overtake immediately into Druids, running in too deep.

Qualifying: Luke Mossey masters the damp conditions to take pole

That error caused Tommy Bridewell to almost hit Iddon, costing Bridewell valuable time. However, Bridewell was quickly able to regroup, and he latched onto the back of Mackenzie in the closing stages of the race. Despite getting a good exit out of Surtees multiple times, he was unable to put a move on his rival into Hawthorns.

Mackenzie’s Yamaha appeared to have more grip, and a traditionally smoother rider, and he kept his cool to secure his eighth victory of the season. Bridewell and Iddon completed the podium, with Jason O’Halloran battling through from 11th on the grid to take fourth.

Heading into the final two races tomorrow afternoon, Mackenzie holds a 22-point lead over O’Halloran. Iddon is now 24 points adrift, with Bridewell a further two points behind in fourth.

Behind all of the excitement of the title fight, Peter Hickman took an impressive fifth position despite starting the race down in 14th. Andrew Irwin with sixth for SYNETIQ BMW, with outgoing champion Josh Brookes crossing the line in seventh. Race one marked Brookes’ 300th start in the British Championship.

Lee Jackson, Glenn Irwin and Bradley Ray completed the top 10, ahead of Danny Buchan and Gino Rea. Buchan, and Hickman, can no longer win this year’s title. Kyle Ryde, Joe Francis and polesitter Luke Mossey secured the final points on offer today.

The safety car was released at the end of lap four following a big crash for Josh Owens at Hawthorn Bend. Fortunately, Owens, who jumped off his bike quickly before it launched into barrier, was able to walk away from the scene of the crash, however he appeared to be in some discomfort after a fast fall.

After the restart, Dean Harrison crashed out of the race at Westfield. On lap 11, Rory Skinner crashed out of fourth at Stirling.

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BSB Brands Hatch: Luke Mossey takes sensational pole in damp conditions

First published: 16 October 2021 at 13:19 by Josh Close

Luke Mossey will start the opening Bennetts British Superbike race of the weekend at Brands Hatch from pole position at Brands Hatch.

Q2 was held in damp conditions following a rain shower prior to the session. Mossey was immediately on the pace having gone through, and topping, Q1 and duly took pole with a 1:35.749.

Friday: Jason O’Halloran tops the opening day at Brands

Mossey is making his return to the Superbike class this weekend with TAG Racing Honda, but will also be racing in the National Superstock Championship this weekend. He’s also signed a one-year deal with the team for 2022.

Title contender Christian Iddon put in a crucial lap in the closing seconds of the session to leap up to second. Iddon was outside of the top 10 at the start of his final flying lap, but saved his session with a 1:36.019 (+0.270s).

Championship leader Tarran Mackenzie completes the front row for McAMS Yamaha, whilst his fellow contender Tommy Bridewell will start from the middle of the second row, in fifth. Jason O’Halloran has the most work to do out of the top four this afternoon, with the Aussie down in 11th.

Andrew Irwin qualified fourth after surviving a massive moment down Paddock Hill Bend. Irwin went onto the wet curbs and was almost sent over the handlebars as his BMW M1000 RR lost grip. Irwin’s airbag was also deployed as a result, so he had to wait two minutes before it deflated.

Rory Skinner completes row two for FS-3 Racing Kawasaki, whilst Ryan Vickers impressed in seventh. Glenn Irwin qualified eighth, whilst Danny Buchan and Gino Rea completed the top 10. Rea, known as a wet weather specialist, was fastest overall earlier in the session.

Josh Brookes will have to fight his way through the field if he’s to make it back onto the podium at one of his most successful circuits. The two-time champion qualified 12th ahead of his 300th race in BSB.

FHO Racing BMW’s Joe Francis and Peter Hickman qualified 13th and 14th respectively, ahead of Lee Jackson. It was revealed this morning that Hickman has re-signed for FHO Racing BMW for the 2022 season.

Storm Stacey was best of the rest in Q1, albeit 0.532 adrift of the top six, and will start race one from 19th on the grid. He’ll be joined on the seventh row by Josh Owens and Joe Sheldon-Shaw.

Dean Harrison heads row eight ahead of Bjorn Estment and Brian McCormack, with Jesse Trayler, Takumi Takahashi, Luke Hopkins, and Ryo Mizuno completing the grid.

Race one is scheduled to begin at 16:05 this afternoon (October 16).

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BSB Brands Hatch: Jason O’Halloran beats Christian Iddon to top spot on day one

First published: 15 October 2021 by Josh Close

Jason O’Halloran got his weekend off to the best possible start at Brands Hatch by topping the combined Bennetts British Superbike free practice standings on Friday.

The Aussie, who is only 10 points behind championship leader Tarran Mackenzie, posted a best lap-time of 1:25.229, which was enough to beat fellow title contender Christian Iddon to top spot by 0.103s. Heading into the final three races of the year, Iddon finds himself 15 points behind Mackenzie.

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• FS-3 Racing Kawasaki retain Jackson and Skinner for 2022

Josh Brookes, who is still searching for his first victory of the season, completed the top three on the second VisionTrack Ducati V4 R. The top three were covered by just 0.136, with FS-3 Racing Kawasaki’s Lee Jackson only another 0.100s back in fourth.

Peter Hickman completed the top five for FHO Racing BMW after topping FP1 earlier in the afternoon. Mackenzie was sixth on his McAMS Yamaha R1, ahead of Danny Buchan and Gino Rea. The latter finished second in FP1, only 0.063s off the lap-time set by Hickman.

Bradley Ray and Glenn Irwin completed the top 10, whilst title-chasing Tommy Bridewell made it into Q2 in 11th. Bridewell is 21 points behind Mackenzie heading into the weekend. Joe Francis secured the final automatic Q2 qualification spot on his second outing as a FHO Racing BMW rider.

Rory Skinner was best of the rest in 13th, missing out on a spot in Q2 by 0.014s. Andrew Irwin (14th) and Kyle Ryde (15th) also failed to make it through to Q2 this afternoon. Luke Mossey ended his first day back in the Superbike class in 17th. Mossey has signed a one-year deal with TAG Racing Honda.

Tomorrow morning’s (October 16) FP3 session is due to begin at 10am. This will be followed by Q1 at 12:15, and Q2 at 12:34. The opening BSB race of the weekend will then begin at 16:05.