WorldSSP: Tarran Mackenzie: “cannot ask for ask for more” after unexpected win

July 31, 2023 July 31, 2023

Tarran Mackenzie “cannot ask for ask for more” after unexpected win at Most.

Tarran Mackenzie won Sunday’s World Supersport Race Two, winning his first ever WorldSSP race. Mackenzie also took Honda’s first race win since 2016 at Qatar with Kyle Smith onboard the CBR600RR. It was also the Scotsman’s first win since Race Three at Thruxton last season in BSB.

Mackenzie said: “I’m so happy! Of course I didn’t expect all this. But I knew that, in a scenario like today’s, I would be ready to stick my neck out. I’d seen the SSP300 race yesterday where one of the riders opted not to pit and stay out, so I essentially did that, and it paid off today.”

The race was won after a short shower caused the majority of the field to pit for the wet compound. The Scotsman stayed out on the tyres and came home to take take the race win ahead of Marcel Schroetter.

He said: “When the rain came, I just put my head down and did my own thing. Before I knew it, I was P7, then P5, P3 but there were still ten laps to go, and I knew that our pace in the dry might not be enough. But I stayed focused, and we did it! I still can’t believe it to be honest.”

Leaving Imola Tarran Mackenzie was down in 20^th in the standings with a best finish of fifth at the opening round in mixed conditions. He has since been promoted to 17^th in the standings, behind John McPhee.

The 2021 BSB Champion added: “It’s been a tough year for the entire team and so to take a result like this is incredible. We always bring something new each weekend and I cannot thank the team enough, they are doing their very best to improve the package and I cannot ask for more than that, so I always do my best to give 100% as well, on and off the track.”

It was a very successful day for the PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team rider with Adam Norrodin finishing in fifth. Team Director, Midori Moriwaki added that both riders “rode amazingly” throughout the tricky race.

Mackenzie concluded: “This win is for the entire team, Midori, Honda, PETRONAS and all the sponsors.”

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Image credit: PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team