TAZ TIME NOW

TAZ MACKENZIE yesterday scorched to the fastest-ever lap of the Silverstone National circuit to take his firstever British Superbike Championship pole.

The tiny MCAMS Yamaha rider saw off a challenge from teammate Jason O’halloran and former Motogp star Scott Redding to clock a record 53.549secs lap in the blistering Northamptonshire heat.

Mackenzie (below) admitted he was surprised to beat O’halloran, who had dominated two of the three practice sessions.

He said: “I didn’t expect that as I’ve been struggling a bit.”