Taylor Mackenzie joins Tyco BMW for penultimate British Superbike round at Donington Park

Scotland’s Taylor Mackenzie will join Christian Iddon in the Tyco BMW team for the penultimate round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Donington Park this weekend.
By Kyle White
Published 1st Oct 2019, 18:15 BST
Taylor Mackenzie will step up to the British Superbike class at Donington Park on the Tyco BMW.Taylor Mackenzie will step up to the British Superbike class at Donington Park on the Tyco BMW.
Taylor Mackenzie will step up to the British Superbike class at Donington Park on the Tyco BMW.

Mackenzie has been competing in the Pirelli National Superstock 1000 Championship this season on the Bathams BMW.

The 26-year-old has been granted the opportunity with TAS Racing after Carrickfergus man Glenn Irwin’s shock split from the team last week.

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Irwin, who began the year with British champions Quattro Plant/JG Speedfit Kawasaki, had joined the Moneymore team as a replacement for the injured Keith Farmer until the end of the season, but the 29-year-old parted company from Philip and Hector Neill’s team in an unexpected development after only four rounds.

Irwin later told the News Letter he wished the team well for the future but did not want to comment on the reason behind the split.

Mackenzie, who rode for TAS Racing previously in the Supersport class in 2013 and 2014, said he was relishing the chance to step up to BSB at the final two rounds of the 2019 championship.

“I’d like to thank TAS Racing, BMW, and obviously my Bathams Racing team for allowing me to take up this opportunity,” said Mackenzie, who won the Superstock 1000 title in 2016.

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“Donington is only ten minutes from my house and a track I love racing at, so it couldn’t have come at a better time and a better place to jump back on a Superbike. The all-new Tyco BMW S1000RR is similar in many areas to my Superstock bike, including the K-Tech Suspension, so that’s a good starting point.

“I’m really looking forward to being back with the TAS guys, as quite a lot of the personnel are the same as when I last rode for them. It should be good fun.”

Tyco BMW team manager Philip Neill said he was realistic over his expectations for Mackenzie this weekend following the eleventh hour deal.

“Having worked with Taylor previously and watched his progress in Superstock on the S1000RR, we are looking forward to seeing what we can achieve together in Superbike, on the all-new 2019 S1000RR,” he said.

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“Obviously this was a late decision and with no available testing time, our expectations are realistic. However, it is important to reinforce the ethos of BMW Motorrad and support riders currently representing the brand.

“On that basis, we are pleased to be able to provide this opportunity for Taylor. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Michael Rutter and Bathams for supporting this.”

Related topics:BMWChristian Iddon