Mackenzie: ‘Yamaha probably the best bike in WorldSBK’, goal is to go with them

2021 British Superbike champion Tarran Mackenzie has told Crash.net that moving to WorldSBK with Yamaha in particular is the main objective for 2023.

The Scottish rider is set for a fifth consecutive season with McAMS Yamaha in 2022 as he looks to defend his BSB title.

But with three World Superbike wildcard rounds already confirmed for next season, the aim of moving to the world championship is very apparent for Mackenzie.

Should the Yamaha rider successfully defend his British title or finish within the top three, it’s very likely that Mackenzie will get his wish of going to World Superbike.

A move to the world scene would likely come aboard an R1, which is a package that Mackenzie believes to be the best right now, however, despite moving there with Yamaha being ‘my main goal’, the 26 year-old didn’t dismiss the idea of joining a different manufacturer should a top ride be available. 

"I’d really like to go with Yamaha. It’s going to be my fifth season on a Yamaha in 2022. For me it’s probably the best bike in WorldSBK at the moment and if the opportunity was there with Yamaha then that would be the perfect situation for me," Mackenzie told Crash.net. 

"That would be my main goal, to go there with Yamaha. But if there was a competitive bike; I don’t know, I’d be surprised if I got offered something, but you don’t know and if there were no opportunities with Yamaha; the goal regardless is to get to WorldSBK. 

"Saying that, I don’t want to just go there for the sake of it and ride in a sort of b/c team. I want to go there properly and do it properly. 

"The main thing for me is I’ve got to perform in BSB, it’s not really about these wildcards. I’ve got to continue the progression that I’ve shown in recent years in BSB. 

"So I just want to carry that on, have this taster of WorldSBK next year and if it’s on a Yamaha for 2023 then that would be even better."