Reigning Bennetts British Superbike Champion Tarran Mackenzie got his title defence firmly back on track at Brands Hatch, celebrating his first win of 2022 before defeating his McAMS Yamaha teammate Jason OāHalloran in a last lap battle in race three to be crowned the Monster Energy King of Brands.
In the second race of the weekend, Mackenzie became the sixth different race winner of the season, as the champion gained momentum after yesterdayās podium as he returned to full fitness following his pre-season injuries.
Mackenzie led from the start but soon came under pressure from local contender Bradley Ray, but after trading blows, the McAMS Yamaha rider emerged ahead and pulled the pin to break the pack by 1.163s at the chequered flag.
OāHalloran fought his way into second place and was able to hold the position to the finish, fending off the challenges from Tommy Bridewell who returned to the podium for Oxford Products Racing Ducati.
Ray had to settle for fourth place, which meant he relinquished the lead in the standings to OāHalloran with Leon Haslam completing the top five for the VisionTrack Kawasaki.
The fight for the Monster Energy King of Brands title went down to the wire in race three as the McAMS Yamaha pairing went head-to-head all the way to the chequered flag to claim the most points of the weekend.
Mackenzie got off to a flying start but ultimately it would come down to the final corner of the flying lap that would decide the winner, with just 0.037s separating the defending champion Jason OāHalloran after a final dogfight to the finish.
It was another incredible race-long battle between the McAMS Yamaha teammates, but at the start, the rider carrying the number one plate had Ray and Glenn Irwin in close contention.
Glenn Irwin was on a charge and the Honda Racing UK rider dived into the lead with a brave move at Paddock Hill Bend as Mackenzie and Ray fought for the advantage.
Ray had moved into second by lap five, but as he went for the lead at Paddock Hill Bend two laps later he ran in hot. He was forced to take a wider line and that handed the position back to Irwin and gave OāHalloran the opportunity to move ahead as Mackenzie was shuffled back into fourth.
Ray moved back into second, but OāHalloran fought back as the pair traded blows for the position. However, Mackenzie was waiting in the wings and he soon eased Ray back into fourth. The McAMS Yamaha teammates then began their battle for second place as Irwin held the lead.
OāHalloran was holding off his teammate when he made a move on Irwin; firing ahead at on lap 13, but soon Mackenzie had also forced the Honda Racing UK rider back a place into third.
By lap 15, Mackenzie hit the front of the field, launching ahead and then he had to withstand the pressure from his teammate over the final four laps.
It inevitably came down to a last lap shootout between the pair and OāHalloran tried to make a pass into Clearways for the final time and edged ahead briefly. The extra speed put him slightly wide and then it was a drag to the finish with Mackenzie just having the edge at the flag from OāHalloran.
Irwin meanwhile recovered to third after a difficult start to the weekend to add to his podium tally, ahead of Ray and Bridewell who battled for fourth place over the closing stages of the race.
Mackenzieās performance now means he moves into the all-important top eight in the standings, whilst OāHalloran has a ten-point advantage over Bradley Ray in the leading position.
Bennetts British Superbike Championship, Brands Hatch, Race 2 result:
- Tarran Mackenzie (McAMS Yamaha)
- Jason OāHalloran (McAMS Yamaha) +1.163s
- Tommy Bridewell (Oxford Products Racing Ducati) +2.076s
- Bradley Ray (Rich Energy OMG Racing Yamaha) +5.490s
- Leon Haslam (VisionTrack Kawasaki) +7.315s
- Rory Skinner (Cheshire Mouldings FS-3 Kawasaki) +7.321s
- Kyle Ryde (Rich Energy OMG Racing Yamaha) +12.468s
- Tom Sykes (MCE Ducati) +20.060s
- Danny Kent (Buildbase Suzuki) +20.420s
- Glenn Irwin (Honda Racing UK) +22.265s
Bennetts British Superbike Championship, Brands Hatch, Race 3 result:
- Tarran Mackenzie (McAMS Yamaha)
- Jason OāHalloran (McAMS Yamaha) +0.037s
- Glenn Irwin (Honda Racing UK) +3.543s
- Bradley Ray (Rich Energy OMG Racing Yamaha) +3.818s
- Tommy Bridewell (Oxford Products Racing Ducati) +5.009s
- Leon Haslam (VisionTrack Kawasaki) +5.139s
- Kyle Ryde (Rich Energy OMG Racing Yamaha) +7.531s
- Peter Hickman (FHO Racing BMW) +11.754s
- Rory Skinner (Cheshire Mouldings FS-3 Kawasaki) +16.043s
- Lee Jackson (Cheshire Mouldings FS-3 Kawasaki) +16.350s
Bennetts British Superbike Championship standings:
- Jason OāHalloran (McAMS Yamaha) 265
- Bradley Ray (Rich Energy OMG Racing Yamaha) 255
- Lee Jackson (Cheshire Mouldings FS-3 Kawasaki) 187
- Rory Skinner (Cheshire Mouldings FS-3 Kawasaki) 174
- Kyle Ryde (Rich Energy OMG Racing Yamaha) 170
- Glenn Irwin (Honda Racing UK) 156
- Tommy Bridewell (Oxford Products Racing Ducati) 137
- Tarran Mackenzie (McAMS Yamaha) 105
Tarran Mackenzie
McAMS Yamaha
āThe goal this weekend was to try and finish on the podium and be back running up front. We started Friday strong and itās just had a bit of a snowball effect over the weekend ā itās just been getting better and better and better!
āThat final race was just hectic, it felt like we were never going to get past Glenn! I knew it just took one person to pass him and then we could maybe all go, but we were all fighting to get behind him.
āWhen Jason passed him, so did I and at that point I think I didnāt even watch my pitboard I just focused on Jason. I got into the lead and wanted to make sure I was in front.
āOn the last lap I did my best in sector one so he didnāt come by. I know heās strong into Stirlingās so I went defensive and I braked so deep into the last corner! The forks went metal to metal like bounced back and poked me in the eyes and then he came flying by. I thought āthereās no way heās stopping thatā and to be fair to him, if I hadnāt have just driven underneath him I think he probably wouldāve got it.
āI was completely sideways, the limiter lights were on, I was shifting and then because the start finish straight is banked, if youāre at the top you can get a run down. I could feel him coming towards me and I could see a wheel.
āIt was just a hectic, stressful last 10 laps with me and him. It was probably some of best, most clean racing I think out of all of us.
āItās just a great feeling for everyone and to be Monster King of Brands as well two years running is really nice and Iām going home happy.ā
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