McAMS Yamaha sticks with O’Halloran, Mackenzie for 2021 BSB title tilt

Jason O’Halloran and Tarran Mackenzie will continue with the McAMS Yamaha team for the 2021 British Superbike Championship following a successful campaign in the shortened 2020 season.

Armed with the latest generation Yamaha YZF-R1, Mackeznie and O’Halloran notched up five wins between them over the course of the six-event, 18-race season with the latter pushing fellow Aussie Josh Brookes all the way in the title fight.

His strongest season to date more than a decade after making his debut in BSB, O’Halloran - who would finish 21 points shy of Brookes in the standings - says it was a ‘no brainer’ to continue into 2021 as he bids to land the elusive title. 

"2020 was my best year in the Bennetts British Superbike Championship, fighting for the title until the end and finishing runner-up in our first year with the new YZF-R1, so for me it was a no brainer to continue this project for 2021 as I feel there's a lot more to come.

“We were quite conservative with what we tried with the bike this year, with the season so short and sessions reduced we found something that worked and stuck with it, but there's a lot we want to try so I am really excited to have a full testing programme and then a full season. 

“This year I was on the podium at every track we went to except one, and with the full calendar back next year I feel this will really suit us, so I can't wait to get going!"

For Mackenzie it will be his fourth season with the McAMS Yamaha set-up and will look to make progress beyond a frustrating 2020 campaign that showed flashes of promise but couldn’t recover from a disappointing start to the year.

"I'm really happy to be staying with the McAMS Yamaha team in 2021 off the back of a great year; it was my strongest in BSB yet and the team had two bikes fighting for the title at the final round.  We made some really big steps with the R1 for this year and closed the gap to Josh to fight at the front until the end and I am confident there's more to come. 

“All the guys and girls here are great and the last three years in the Superbike class have been amazing with a better result each year, so I want to continue that success."

“We’ve just had our best ever season in BSB in just our fourth year in the series, so keeping things the same for 2021 was the priority,” added team manager Steve Rodgers. “Jason valiantly fought for the title this year, taking it down to the final race at the final round with some astonishing performances, including taking the win in what was the best race of the year at Brands Hatch. Taz also showed his potential with some brilliant rides, most notably winning from 12th on the grid at Silverstone and then that great ride at Donington Park.

“After 2020, there is no doubt we have a package capable of fighting for the championship, so for everyone concerned, keeping everything the same for 2021 made perfect sense as we look to build on such a successful season.”