Tarran Mackenzie couldn’t hide his frustration at the limited track time he was able to get in during the final WorldSBK pre-season test on European soil after encountering persistent technical issues with his new Honda CBR1000RR-R before a crash ended his day early.
The 2021 British Superbike Champion [BSB] embarks on his first season of WorldSBK in 2024 as one of six British riders taking on the international contingent in the Superbike class.
Mackenzie steps up to WorldSBK with the same Petronas MIE Racing Honda team he competed with in WorldSSP, the Scot hoping for a turn in fortunes after a tough season on the uncompetitive Honda CBR600RR-R, with exception to his shock win in mixed conditions at Most.
For 2024, Mackenzie stays with the Czech-based, Malaysian-backed MIE Racing outfit aboard the latest specification Honda CBR1000RR-R.
It’s a machine he got to try for the first time at Portimao earlier in the week, albeit with some 2023-specification parts mixed in.
However, after missing the Jerez test last week, Mackenzie was left frustrated by losing the first day at Portimao through technical issues and spending much of day two easing in the new running gear then crashing with less than an hour to go.
As such, he was in a sanguine mood after the second day, instead choosing to look ahead with positivity to the official pre-season test at Phillip Island, prior to the opening round at the same venue.
“It wasn’t an easy day,” he told the WorldSBK website after ending the day 23rd quickest, 4.5secs off Toprak Razgatlioglu’s lap record-breaking pace..
“Unfortunately at the beginning we had to take it steady at the start so the first-half was just running an engine in.
“Then once we got going, we had a little we tried to resolve and then towards the end I had a crash which ended my crash with 40mins to go. Sometimes tests go like that, so it was a shame to miss the day yesterday.
This test we still have a mixed bike, some 2023, some 2024 but at Phillip Island it will be all 2024. The new stuff was good to work with, it was nice to get some laps under our belt.
“It was positive for me anyway, but it was a shame not to do many laps on it, but it seems a better direction than before.”
