Tarran Mackenzie to defend BSB title with McAMS Yamaha in 2022

Tarran Mackenzie will officially defend his BSB championship in 2022 as he returns to McAMS Yamaha. 

Mackenzie, who could become the first rider since Shane Byrne to successfully defend the title, will attempt to do so with the number one plate aboard his R1 machine. 

Mackenzie won the 2021 title after a brilliant showdown performance which saw him collect five wins from a possible nine. Mackenzie won a total of ten races throughout the season as he got the better of early season front-runner and team-mate Jason O’Halloran and Ducati’s Tommy Bridewell.

There had been speculation that Mackenzie would make the switch to WorldSBK for 2022 - specifically with the GoEleven outfit, however, that ride instead went the way of WorldSSP rider Philipp Oettl.  

Speaking about his new deal, Mackenzie added: "I am really excited to come back and defend the title; it will be my first time in that position in BSB, so it is another new experience and a different way to start the year - I am really looking forward to it!

"I will be coming back with McAMS for my fifth year in the British Superbike Championship, which is amazing and it is fantastic to be back with Steve and all of my exact same crew. The Yamaha looks like it will make a good step forward too for next year as well.

"To be running that number one plate is going to be something special. It was something that I did in Supersport and it is obviously something that Dad has done over the years. It will be an interesting year and I am looking forward to it.

"We were laughing about it the other day as 2022 will be 25 years on since Dad defended his, and then he won his second title, so that 25 year history is still there for me!

"I want to thank all of Raceways Yamaha, Steve Rodgers, all the guys and girls at McAMS and the entire team as we had an amazing year and made my dream came true. To get to ride with them again next season makes me feel very lucky and I am grateful that we can defend the title together."

Although a full-time WorldSBK ride will have to wait until 2023 at the earliest, the Scottish rider is expected to take part in several winter tests, while McAMS Yamaha intends to enter him as a wildcard during the season - 'further details will be released in due course' says the team.