The King of Brands dominates on Sunday.
Tarran Mackenzie seems to be back to his 2021 self after dominating proceedings on Sunday at Brands Hatch. After picking up second place in Saturday’s sprint race; the reigning champion returned to imperious form following up with two first place finishes ahead of team mate Jason O’Halloran.
Mackenzie started race 2 on Sunday in pole position and would go on to stay there throughout the entire race. The trailing pack could do nothing to catch Mackenzie as he stretched his lead to over a second as the laps went by. Whilst the rest of the field battled for position; Mackenzie looked like he was out for a Sunday drive on his McAMS Yamaha. There were no doubts left in the minds of the sizeable crowd at Brands Hatch, the champ was back.
It appeared that a strong wildcard appearance in the World Superbike Championship the previous week had done wonders for Mackenzie’s confidence. This was confirmed in the final race of the weekend; Mackenzie again starting in pole position – took the lead going into the first corner. However, Jason O’Halloran was not going to let his team mate ride off into the distance this time. O’Halloran caught Mackenzie within a few laps, which followed by the Scotsman dropping back to fourth place as he battled for position with Tommy Bridewell and Bradley Ray.
As the final few laps approached, it was the two McAMS Yamaha riders who were first and second. Jostling for position, it looked like it was going to be O’Halloran who was going to continue his recent dominance. However, in what probably felt like de ja vu for the crowd, Mackenzie took back first position in the final corner of the final lap. You would have been forgiven for thinking the clocks had wound back to October 2021; in a move that nearly mirrored Mackenzie’s last lap heroics in the Showdown decider the previous season. Mackenzie beating his teammate by 0.03 seconds and taking his second win of the day.
It is foolish to try and predict what the rest of the season has in store; especially in a championship as unpredictable as this. However, should Mackenzie make it into the Showdown this year, it would take a brave person to bet against him.
S.W. Sports Journalist 