BSB: Tarran Mackenzie to make WorldSBK debut in Assen wildcard

Tarran Mackenzie will make his World Superbike Championship debut this month in a wildcard appearance at Assen.

The reigning BSB champion will race a WorldSBK specification Yamaha R1 with his McAMS Yamaha team on April 22-24. The team will receive support from Yamaha Europe at the event, with full backing from Road Racing Manager, Andrea Dosoli.

Related articles on MCN

• Danny Buchan launches Pro83 Academy
• Charlie Nesbitt joins VisionTrack Suzuki in Superstock
• Tom Sykes returns to BSB with PBM

The 26-year-old will need to familiarise himself with the WorldSBK-spec engine and Magneti Marelli electronics, however the chassis is almost identical to the ones used in BSB. Mackenzie has raced at Assen previously, taking his maiden BSB podium during his rookie campaign in 2018.

“I am very excited to make my debut in the WorldSBK championship at Assen and it will be quite special to do it with my McAMS Yamaha team as I’ve been with them for the last five years and together, we have come a long way,” Mackenzie said. “Obviously there is a lot for me to learn with the engine and electronics, but I know the chassis well as my BSB bike is very similar.

“Assen is a circuit I love riding, the first time I rode a superbike there in 2018 I finished on the podium. The level in World Championship is really high and I’m looking forward to getting out on track and giving it our all. I have to say a huge thanks to Steve and the McAMS Yamaha team, as well as Andrea and everyone at Yamaha Racing for making this possible.”

Assen will be the first of three planned wildcards for Mackenzie this season as he looks to earn a full-time WorldSBK ride with Yamaha next year. Mackenzie is expected to also make an appearance at Donington, and one at either Misano, Most and Portimao – European rounds that don’t clash with the BSB calendar.

“We have enjoyed a long and fruitful working relationship with the McAMS team and their two riders, with a real two-way collaboration bringing benefits for all,” Dosoli added. “We are delighted to see Tarran and McAMS step up onto the world stage in Assen, as this fits perfectly with Yamaha’s racing philosophy of offering opportunities to the best riders and teams worldwide.”

Whilst it’s the first venture into WorldSBK for the McAMS Yamaha team in its current iteration, Raceways Motorcycles made several wildcards in the World Supersport Championship in the 2000/2010s.

“We are looking forward to taking the McAMS Yamaha team to the world stage in our first Superbike wildcard appearance at Assen later this month,” McAMS Yamaha Team Principal, Steve Rodgers said.

“Raceways have supported Tarran since his very early days of racing and we’ve seen him rise through the ranks, to the point where he won us the British Superbike Championship in 2021. His dream is to continue his progression, so we are delighted to be able to give him the opportunity to make his World Superbike debut.”

The 2022 BSB season gets underway at Silverstone on April 15-17.