Tarran Mackenzie 'on track' for first British Superbike pre-season test

McAMS Yamaha rider Tarran Mackenzie has confirmed he expects to be fit enough to take part in next month’s opening British Superbike test at Snetterton. 

Last year’s BSB champion suffered a training accident while riding a Yamaha R1 at Cartagena last month, which led to a fractured right tibia as well as a dislocated right shoulder. 

But following a successful surgery, Mackenzie has stated 'we are on track' to begin the season as he comes towards the end of his first five weeks of rehabilitation. 

"I’ve got the date of the first BSB test in my mind and I’m aiming to be as physically fit and mobile as possible for that and then we can make a plan from there for going forwards," added Mackenzie

"All in all, things are looking a lot better than they did a month ago so with another month to go, I’d say we are on track."

Mackenzie, who is set to make his WorldSBK debut in the form of three wildcard appearances in 2022, is also the favourite to retain title ahead of a potential full-time switch to the world championship in 2023.

While there’s no good time to get injured, Mackenzie believes there’s no pressure on him to be 100% ready for pre-season testing as the team is provided most of their new parts from the factory Yamaha WorldSBK team once already tested, therefore ‘it’s not like we’ve got a new bike of radical things to try’.   

Mackenzie continued: "There’s no pressure in terms of testing either, it’s not like we’ve got a new bike or radically different things to try. The team have been working hard to develop the bike over the winter, but a lot of the new parts we’re getting come directly from World Superbikes so in a way they’re already tried and tested so we can just bolt them on. 

"And one of the many positives to having someone as fast and experienced as Jason [O'Halloran] on the other side of the garage means that if there is anything new to try, he will be able to try it and I can trust his judgement and capability. 

"Normally if something works for him it works for both of us, so he might have to do a bit more of the donkey work whereas I’ll focus on being bike fit!"

Should Mackenzie be fit enough to begin pre-season testing, then a first appearance will come at Snetterton (March 26-27) before a further two tests take place at Donington Park (March 31st) and Silverstone (April 6-7).