Taz ready to lead from front
Stirling superbike star Tarran Mackenzie is aiming for a consistent title challenge as the British Superbike Championship roars into life this weekend.
The 24-year-old, son of Grand Prix icon Niall Mackenzie, took his first win in the class last season on his way to an impressive fifth place finish – however his hopes of a serious title tilt were delayed by big accidents at Brands Hatch andthruxton.
After an extended wait however the season finally gets under way at Donington Park this weekend, and Taz is aiming to put everything he learned in his second season into action.
He told the Observer:“for me the aim this year is just to build on last season. I managed to win one race and be a little bit more consistent fighting for wins and podiums at the start of the year until I broke my wrist.
“I want to fight for a place in the top three, if I achieve that then I want to have the opportunity to push to try and win the title.
“But I’m just taking it round by round, I want to build on last year and be more consistent.
“I want to be a strong frontrunner every week and have the chance of being a podium finisher every weekend.
“I just want to be closer to the guys in front; Scott Redding has left for World Superbikes but Josh Brookes and Tommy Bridewell were two strong guys so I want to be closer to them.
“It’s my third year now so I’m no longer the rookie, I’ve got a lot of experience on a superbike in the same team on the same bike, so I want to build on that and give the
Ducatis a bit more of a run for their money.”
A huge crash at Brands Hatch last year briefly left Mackenzie unconscious, – before a fractured wrist forced him to ride through the pain barrier at the punishing Cadwell Park, however the incidents didn’t impact his all-action riding style.
He said:“in the past it’s always been worse off the bike and when you get on it, it seems alright.
““I was lucky to be able to come back after a week, it’s all just experience I guess.”