BSB: Brookes and Mackenzie confirmed at McAMS Yamaha

Young gun Tarran Mackenzie will join title favourite Josh Brookes in the McAMS Yamaha team for the 2018 British Superbike Championship. 

One of the worst kept secrets in the paddock, it has finally been confirmed that 2015 British Champion Brookes will move to the factory-supported Yamaha effort after a sterling year with the privateer Anvil Hire squad saw him miss out on a second British title by a mere three points.

“It was a logical step really,” Brookes told MCN from his home in Australia. “I’ve had a good run with Yamaha so it made sense to pick the best Yamaha out there now and go with that.

“I’m happy with what we did last year, I’ve got no regrets and I’m not disappointed. I felt like I did a good job considering what I had. That being said, if I achieve the same results this year, I would be disappointed. The goal is to win the title.”

Joining the Aussie star in the squad is 2016 British Supersport Champion Tarran Mackenzie, who returns to Britain after a move to Moto2 mid-way through last year didn’t pan out as he’d have liked. 

“I’m really pleased to be going to BSB with the McAMS team,” Mackenzie said. “Moto2 didn’t go to plan for me but I have no regrets, I learned a lot and I’m sure that’s going to help me when I get on the superbike this year.

“I set goals every year and the first goal on my superbike checklist is to finish top 15, when we achieve that we’ll move the goalposts. It might not sound like much, but BSB is not an easy class! If I can have a solid rookie year, maybe targeting something similar to what Bradley Ray achieved or even Jake Dixon when he got some solid results on the BMW before his injury then I’ll be happy and we can progress from there.”

 For more on this story, pick up today’s issue of MCN

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