Round three of the Bennets British Super bikes heads to Donington Park this weekend! This means the return of McCam's Yamaha Tarran Mackenzie in the SBK class.
Mackenzie completed a short test on his R1 at Donington last Thursday, which was considered a success. He has been given the all-clear from his surgeon, so will re-present to the Bennetts BSB medical team on Friday in the hope of riding in Round 3 this weekend.
Mackenzie said: “It was great to get back on my R1 last week and I felt quite good all things considered. I’ve seen my surgeon and had some X-Rays and he’s happy with where I’m at so I’m confident I’ll be able to race.
"I’m looking forward to pulling my leathers back on and getting out for my first race of the year. I have no expectations, I’m just looking forward to getting back with my team and riding my bike! It will be the first time I’ve raced since Brands Hatch so I am really looking forward to getting back to what I love.”
Headlining the Super bikes this weekend is OMG Racing's Bradley Ray, who leads the premier class after two successful previous rounds, also followed by two other different race winners so far this season – Glenn Irwin completed the Silverstone hat-trick, Ray did the double at Oulton Park and Lee Jackson celebrated a first victory in the final race in Cheshire.
Whilst the trio will bid to add to their success this weekend, there are also a further five riders who have stood on the podium to look out for including 2018 champion Leon Haslam, who is gearing up for his home round.
The stakes are high for Ray as a prize in the Milwaukee Spring Grand Slam remains there for the taking. Jackson ended his hopes of a victory clean sweep across the six races comprising the competition, but the Kent contender remains in contention for five wins, and if he can complete the treble, he will take home £25,000.
Both Ray and Jackson are in with a chance of scooping a £10,000 prize if either can claim four wins from the six Milwaukee Spring Grand Slam Races. Ray would need to do the double or Jackson be unbeaten this weekend.
Glenn Irwin and Honda Racing UK will have high hopes as the Japanese manufacturer celebrates the 30th anniversary of the Fireblade, having been victorious at the venue in the past. Irwin holds second in the standings, six points adrift of Ray as he bids to give Honda even more reason to celebrate.
Young gun Rory Skinner leads the FS-3 Racing Kawasaki charge in the standings. The Scot has scored two podiums so far this season and seeks his first race win the Superbike class, as teammate Jackson holds fifth ahead of the next three races.
Kyle Ryde on the second of the Rich Energy OMG Racing Yamahas splits the Kawasaki teammates in the standings. The Nottinghamshire rider is coming into his home round after enjoying his strongest start yet to a season.
McAMS Yamaha’s Jason O'Halloran will be hunting a podium return this weekend; the Australian won on the National circuit last season and knows he needs to start bagging podium points if he is will be in with a chance of the title in the Showdown.
His teammate and reigning champion Tarran Mackenzie will be bidding to begin his title defence this weekend at his home round. The current number one has yet to race in 2022 after breaking his ankle in pre-season testing, so is targeting his comeback from injury this weekend.
Tommy Bridewell is another previous winner at Donington Park and he holds seventh place in the standings for Oxford Products Racing Ducati, nine points ahead of FHO Racing BMW’s Peter Hickman who completes the current top eight.
Andrew Irwin (SYNETIQ BMW) and Christian Iddon (Buildbase Suzuki) will be pushing to elevate themselves from the top ten into the all-important top eight, but there are also two riders who expect a surge up the standings. MCE Ducati teammates Josh Brookes, a double champion, and his World Championship-winning teammate, Tom Sykes, who has recent knowledge of the circuit from his time on the world stage.
Bennetts British Superbike Championship standings:
Bradley Ray (Rich Energy OMG Racing Yamaha) 102
Glenn Irwin (Honda Racing UK) 96
Rory Skinner (FS-3 Racing Kawasaki) 86
Kyle Ryde (Rich Energy OMG Racing Yamaha) 81
Lee Jackson (FS-3 Racing Kawasaki) 80
Jason O'Halloran (McAMS Yamaha) 60
Tommy Bridewell (Oxford Products Racing Ducati) 56
Peter Hickman (FHO Racing BMW) 47
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