Mackenzie, O’Halloran retained by McAMS for BSB 2020 on new Yamaha R1

McAMS Yamaha has confirmed it will enter a pair of new generation Yamaha R1s for the 2020 British Superbike Championship, as well as retain riders Tarran Mackenzie and Jason O’Halloran for another season.

The factory-backed Yamaha team has enjoyed race-winning success with the current generation of R1, while Mackenzie will fight for the 2019 BSB crown after confirming his place in the Title Showdown over the weekend at Oulton Park.

Favouring continuity with its riders for 2020, Mackenzie enters his third season with the team, while O’Halloran – currently tenth in the overall classification - is set for his second after joining at the start of 2020.

Beneath them will be the new Yamaha R1, which hits the road this month following its world premiere in July before hitting the track next season around the world. 

McAMS Yamaha set sights high for BSB 2020 with new R1

With a new bike on its way, McAMS Yamaha will look to replicate more of the form that has seen it at times take the fight to Ducati in BSB more effectively than any other manufacturer. 

Importantly, Raceways – the team behind McAMS – will take delivery of the 2020 Yamaha R1 at the end of the month, giving it significant preparation time for next season. 

Moreover, while injuries for both O’Halloran and Mackenzie have stuttered the team’s progress, the latter has affirmed his status as a potential champion with a maiden win at Silverstone followed by some eye-catching results elsewhere. It is form he is keen to maintain in 2020.

“I’m really happy to stay with McAMS Yamaha for the third year running. Continuity is important for me and it’s something that helped us take a step forward this year. 2019 has been fairly good, we’ve been able to run at the front regularly and it’s only the injury that’s held us back in the middle part of the year. 

“It’s really exciting to have a new YZF-R1 coming for next year, the guys have already had one on the dyno and the improvements on the 2019 bike look promising at this stage, especially in regard to mid-range power which should help us next year. 

“I’m happy to get my 2020 deal signed and out of the way early so I can now focus on the last three rounds and ending the year in the best possible way.”

Tarran Mackenzie still in 2019 BSB title hunt

McAMS Yamaha may be looking towards 2020, but it certainly isn’t out of contention for this year’s title after Mackenzie shrugged off injury to confirm his Title Showdown spot.

It’s no mean feat for the son of triple BSB champion Niall Mackenzie, who has been forced to skip two entire rounds because of two separate injuries, while he wasn’t fully fit for the two most recent events at Cadwell Park and Oulton Park.

It makes him something of a dark horse coming into the three-round, seven-race shootout, not least because he produced his best form of 2018 during this phase of the season. 

With the points now equalised and podium credits added, he starts the Title Showdown fourth overall with 515 points – 33 points adrift of leader Josh Brookes.