Mackenzie tops opening BSB practice at Donington

2021 Bennetts British Superbikes
Round Ten – Donington Park

Tarran Mackenzie set the benchmark for his Bennetts British Superbike Championship title rivals after the opening SUPERPICKS Free Practice sessions at Donington Park, as the top three riders dipped under the existing lap record.

McAMS Yamaha’s Mackenzie secured the top position as the final ten minutes of the session counted down, surging ahead of Bradley Ray, who was setting the pace before the final flurry of fast laps at the end of the session.

Tarran Mackenzie – McAMS Yamaha – P1

“I am usually a slow burner on a Friday and so I didn’t expect to top the sessions! I think it’s the first time I’ve probably ever topped a free practice on a Friday this year, so to be in the position we are coming into the weekend, and with how it has gone today is really good. The conditions can still change this weekend, but it is important to know that we can be fast in the dry as that could still be what happens, but I feel that we are ready for that and the McAMS Yamaha is feeling good. Free Practice doesn’t mean anything for the championship, but it certainly feels good to have ended the day fastest and we are feeling positive ahead of the race tomorrow.”

Mackenzie heads into tomorrow’s action bidding to extend his two-point advantage at the top of the standings in the opening BikeSocial Race at his home round.

Christian Iddon held on to second position after the opening day on track; the VisionTrack Ducati rider moving just 0.121s adrift of Mackenzie on his penultimate lap of the day, after the session was briefly red flagged after separate crashes from Andrew Irwin and Gino Rea at Craner Curves.

Danny Buchan was third fastest after topping the earlier session for the SYNETIQ BMW team, just ahead of Jason O’Halloran, who is ready to fight back to overhaul his McAMS Yamaha teammate at the top of the standings.

Ray dropped to fifth place at the chequered flag, with the Rich Energy OMG Racing BMW rider and Lee Jackson splitting the Title Fighters on the times.

Peter Hickman overcame his small crash this morning to finish in seventh position for the FHO Racing BMW team, just ahead of reigning champion Josh Brookes on the second of the VisionTrack Ducatis.

Rory Skinner and Title Fighter Glenn Irwin completed the top ten, marginally ahead of Andrew Irwin and Tommy Bridewell, who complete the riders who will progress directly into tomorrow’s Q2 grid decider.

Bennetts British Superbike Championship
Donington Park, SUPERPICKS 12 Free Practice

1. Tarran Mackenzie (McAMS Yamaha) 1m:28.708s
2. Christian Iddon (VisionTrack Ducati) +0.121s
3. Danny Buchan (SYNETIQ BMW) +0.180s
4. Jason O’Halloran (McAMS Yamaha) +0.299s
5. Bradley Ray (Rich Energy OMG Racing BMW) +0.304s
6. Lee Jackson (FS-3 Racing Kawasaki) +0.380s
7. Peter Hickman (FHO Racing BMW) +0.403s
8. Josh Brookes (VisionTrack Ducati) +0.461s
9. Rory Skinner (FS-3 Racing Kawasaki) +0.475s
10. Glenn Irwin (Honda Racing) +0.596s
11. Andrew Irwin (SYNETIQ BMW) +0.770s
12. Tommy Bridewell (Oxford Products Racing Ducati) +0.967s

Bennetts British Superbike Championship Standings

Quattro Group British Supersport Championship Standings

Quattro Group British GP2 Championship Standings

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