Tarran Mackenzie was second quickest on the opening day of the eighth round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Snetterton.
After heavy rainfall, the opening session of the weekend was held in wet but drying conditions. Jason O’Halloran set the seventh quickest time and Mackenzie sat 14th.
The rain held off for Free Practice 2 and Mackenzie was quick from the off, leading the way in the early stages. He’d improve his lap time to a 1’48.486 which placed him second on the timesheets on his final lap of the session to progress directly to Qualifying 2.
Unable to set a time in FP2 due to a technical problem beyond the team and Jason’s control, O’Halloran rounded out the day 25th overall and will take part in the Qualifying 1 session to earn his place in Qualifying 2.
Tim Neave brushed off an off throttle highside in wet conditions in the morning’s National Superstock session to place 13th in the afternoon’s dry Free Practice 2.
1. Bradley Ray (Rich Energy OMG Racing Yamaha) 1m:47.496s
2. Tarran Mackenzie (McAMS Yamaha) +0.990s
3. Danny Buchan (SYNETIQ BMW) +1.001s
4. Kyle Ryde (Rich Energy OMG Racing Yamaha) +1.310s
5. Glenn Irwin (Honda Racing UK) +1.331s
6. Tom Sykes (MCE Ducati) +1.348s
7. Tommy Bridewell (Oxford Products Racing Ducati) +1.586s
8. Rory Skinner (Cheshire Mouldings FS-3 Kawasaki) +1.617s
9. Andrew Irwin (SYNETIQ BMW) +1.774s
10. Lee Jackson (Cheshire Mouldings FS-3 Kawasaki) 1.784s
11. Peter Hickman (FHO Racing BMW) +1.808s
12. Josh Brookes (MCE Ducati) +2.196s
25. Jason O’Halloran (McAMS Yamaha)
Reigning British Superbike Champion Tarran Mackenzie fought back from a tricky start to take a resounding second place in the opening Bennetts British Superbike race at Snetterton.
Having secured sixth on the grid in the wet Qualifying 2 earlier in the day, Mackenzie struggled off the line dropping back to ninth position on the opening lap.
Despite the start, Mackenzie fought back through the pack, moving up to second position and setting the second quickest lap of the race with a 1’47.845, narrowly short of Bradley Ray’s quickest lap of the race. As quick as the race leader towards the end, the shorter 12-lap race, which was shortened further by a safety car intervention, meant the #1 could not quite close Ray’s gap at the front and crossed the line second.
It was a more challenging day for Jason O’Halloran, who was hoping for a dry final practice session after a technical problem beyond the team’s control limited his running on Friday. However, with FP3 neither wet nor dry, he was further unable to progress with set-up for the race. A wet Qualifying 1 further complicated matters, when a late change of tyres wasn’t quite enough for him to progress to the second session meaning he’d start 17th on the grid.
That meant the Aussie’s first laps in the dry this weekend were held in the race, and a strong start saw the O’Halloran set a lap time quick enough to secure fourth on the grid for tomorrow’s second race. Progressing through the pack, he finished 12th.
Mackenzie now moves into sixth in the championship standings and looks certain to confirm his Showdown position in Race 2, sitting 24 podium points behind Ray.
O’Halloran loses the podium point lead for the first time since Brands Hatch, but sits just three points behind his fellow Yamaha rider.
Edwards 1902 Yamaha rider Tim Neave qualified eighth for tomorrow’s National Superstock race.
Bennetts British Superbike Championship, Snetterton, eBay Sprint race:
1. Bradley Ray (Rich Energy OMG Racing Yamaha)
2. Tarran Mackenzie (McAMS Yamaha) +2.437s
3. Kyle Ryde (Rich Energy OMG Racing Yamaha) +4.474s
4. Christian Iddon (Buildbase Suzuki) +4.894s
5. Leon Haslam (VisionTrack Kawasaki) +8.353s
6. Lee Jackson (Cheshire Mouldings FS-3 Kawasaki) +9.264s
7. Tom Sykes (MCE Ducati) +10.146s
8. Peter Hickman (FHO Racing BMW) +11.412s
9. Glenn Irwin (Honda Racing UK) +12.713s
10. Danny Kent (Buildbase Suzuki) +13.273s
12. Jason O’Halloran (McAMS Yamaha) +13.507
Bennetts British Superbike Championship standings:
1. Bradley Ray (Rich Energy OMG Racing Yamaha) 397 – SHOWDOWN CONFIRMED
2. Jason O’Halloran (McAMS Yamaha) 363 – SHOWDOWN CONFIRMED
3. Rory Skinner (Cheshire Mouldings FS-3 Kawasaki) 241 – SHOWDOWN CONFIRMED
4. Lee Jackson (Cheshire Mouldings FS-3 Kawasaki) 235 – SHOWDOWN CONFIRMED
5. Glenn Irwin (Honda Racing UK) 221– SHOWDOWN CONFIRMED
6. Tarran Mackenzie (McAMS Yamaha) 206
7. Tommy Bridewell (Oxford Products Racing Ducati) 201
8. Kyle Ryde (Rich Energy OMG Racing Yamaha) 194
9. Danny Buchan (SYNETIQ BMW) 164
10. Leon Haslam (VisionTrack Kawasaki) 154
11. Peter Hickman (FHO Racing BMW) 152
Reigning British Superbike Champion Tarran Mackenzie confirmed his place in the title fighting Showdown this weekend, collecting three podium finishes at the Snetterton circuit.
Having secured sixth on the grid on Saturday for that afternoon’s shortened 12-lap race, Mackenzie struggled off the line, dropping back to ninth by the end of lap one. Despite the tricky start, he pushed through the field following the brief Safety Car interruption, crossing the line second after being unable to close down leader Bradley Ray. On the other side of the garage, it was a tough opening encounter for Jason O’Halloran who, after limited running due to a technical issue started 17th on the grid. Setting the fourth quickest lap time, the Aussie progressed through the pack to secure 12th.
As the skies cleared up for Sunday, battle commenced as the final two Bennetts British Superbike Championship races got underway. Making a strong start, Mackenzie was in the hunt for victory, claiming the lead in the early stages. However, a late move from Ray meant Mackenzie could only manage second, collecting further showdown points. O’Halloran enjoyed two stronger performances on Sunday. The championship contender opened his day with a ninth-place finish in race two.
The final race of the weekend saw Mackenzie once again in contention for the victory. Leading the race when a safety car intervention was called, the #1 Yamaha rider fell foul to a late penalty, having passed the safety car before it had entered the pits. Despite the penalty, the 26-year-old pushed hard to secure second at the flag, taking third overall.
Jason O’Halloran further progressed on Sunday afternoon. The Aussie enjoyed a tough battle inside the top six before crossing the line in fourth.
The McAMS Yamaha Team are now locked and loaded for the Showdown battle with O’Halloran trailing leader Ray by 13 points. Tarran Mackenzie heads to Oulton Park third in the standings, 30 points adrift from the title leader.
Edwards 1902 Superstock rider Tim Neave returned to podium form, securing third in the Pirelli National Superstock race on Sunday.
Bennetts British Superbike Championship, Snetterton, eBay Sprint race:
Bennetts British Superbike Championship, Snetterton, Race 2:
Bennetts British Superbike Championship, Snetterton, Race 3 result:
Bennetts British Superbike Championship standings:
© 2025 Eazi-Grip All Rights Reserved
Website Designed & Built by Stone Create
