Tarran Mackenzie quit WorldSBK after the 2025 Misano round but was scoring a career-best result at the same venue in 2026.
Mackenzie’s revival in WorldSBK was brought about by the MGM Ducati team last year which signed him to replace Scott Redding who departed mid-season for BSB.
After almost a year on the Ducati now, Mackenzie finds himself 13th in the riders’ standings after Misano following a fifth-place finish in Race 2, equalling his best result in the series that was scored in the rain at Phillip Island back in February.
In Australia, Mackenzie had said that he did not want to be known as just a wet weather rider, and finally at Misano he was able to prove that he can score those kinds of results in dry conditions as well.
“Really happy,” Mackenzie told WorldSBK.com.
“In the test we had in Misano I felt like I made a step, so I was excited to come back this weekend. But it was more difficult than I expected, honestly.
“On Friday, I felt like I had good pace for at least top-10, and then with the long lap yesterday it just made it a bit more difficult.
“But today I was motivated in the Superpole Race to try and get those front three [rows on the grid for Race 2], and then it just makes your last race easier.
“So, a good start, managed to kind of come around with the group for the top-seven or top-eight, and then made my way to sixth. Got a bit lucky with Bassani unfortunately crashing out, but it gave me P5, so over the moon.”
He added: “This time last year was a complete disaster for me, was a really low point in my career. I stopped here in Misano, I quit with the team, qualified last, was riding around at the back, crashing.
“It’s just funny how a year on I’ve got my best dry result with fifth place, something that if you’d have told me last year I’d have probably just laughed.
“So, it’s funny how things happen, but luckily I was right, a bit of self-belief went a long way, along with my amazing team, so I’m just really happy for everyone involved.
“There’s a lot of Italian guys in our team, so to get them our best result of the year here in Misano is a great achievement for everyone.”
Mackenzie added that a key part of his fifth place in Race 2 was his ninth in the Supeprole Race, which earned him a third row start.
“To be top-nine in the Superpole Race, it sounds like not a lot but it’s difficult,” he said.
“When you’re in that group that’s so close from eighth to 12th, it’s difficult to try and make that step.
“Felt like I had good pace. Got a bit unlucky in the first couple of laps [of the Superpole Race], a bit of luck with both the Lowes boys unfortunately, but sometimes it just goes that way.
“It just gave me P9, so really happy with that and it just makes your last race a lot easier.
“So, qualifying is kind of a bit of a burden at the moment, something I’m struggling with, but slowly progressing and it really does make your weekend.”
