BSB: Tarran Mackenzie ruled out of action with broken femur

Tarran Mackenzie has been ruled out of the remainder of the 2022 Bennetts British Superbike Championship season after fracturing his left femur at Oulton Park.

Mackenzie sustained the injury during Race Two when he fell on the entry to Hislop’s Chicane. The McAMS Yamaha rider slid across the grass and back onto the circuit in front of riders exiting the chicane, and unfortunately Peter Hickman was unable to avoid hitting Mackenzie.

The reigning champion was assessed at the scene before being transferred to hospital in Stoke for further assessment. Mackenzie was due to undergo surgery on Monday afternoon (September 26) and gave fans an update on his social media channels.

“I don’t know what to say other than a huge thank you to all of the BSB staff, medics and marshals,” Mackenzie said. “I worked so hard all year to be in the best form possible heading into the Showdown and unfortunately it wasn’t meant to be. That’s my 2022 season over.

“I’m gutted to end it like this after such a strong comeback with McAMS Yamaha. All being well I should get an operation on my femur today and be on the mend soon. Thanks for all the kind messages and I’m glad to see Christian Iddon and Rory Skinner god away relatively ok too.”

As Mackenzie mentioned on social media, he’d worked hard to make it into the Showdown after missing the opening two rounds of the season through injury. Mackenzie suffered a fractured left ankle in a huge crash coming out of the final corner (Woodcote) at the Silverstone Test.

Prior to the Showdown, Mackenzie secured three wins and nine podiums to sit just 30 points behind series leader Bradley Ray heading into Oulton Park. A crash in Saturday’s race at Shell Oils left him 55 points adrift, before Sunday’s incident ended his hopes of defending his crown.

McAMS Yamaha teammate Jason O’Halloran will race at Donington Park despite missing the finale at Oulton on Sunday. O’Halloran was taken out of the opening two races in near-identical incidents, involving Hickman on Saturday and Tommy Bridewell on Sunday, at Druids.

O’Halloran is 65 points behind Ray with two rounds remaining. Ray leads the championship by 40 points ahead of Bridewell, with Lee Jackson a further eight points adrift in third.