British Supersport debutant Taylor Mackenzie is en-route to Almeria with his Mar-Train Yamaha team for the first test of the season and will celebrate his 19th birthday over the same weekend.

The Scot will put in two days on a stock R6 before his 2012 racebike appears next week. He will have three days to get dialled into riding the big four-stroke after a career so far spent on stinkwheels.

“I’ll be riding a standard R6 for two days at Almeria, then the team are out next week where I’ll get three days on the Mar-Train Racing Yamaha Supersport machine. Having seen the bike last week for the first time, I’m sure you’ll agree by the pictures it looks really good," he said.

“I’ve been out cycling with Chris Walker and Jonny Towers and Ben Swift who rides for Team Sky was also out with us last weekend. We did three and a half hours one day and four the next so it’s hard training but I’ve enjoyed training at home over the winter; now it’s time to ride my race-bike and I’m looking forward to it.”