Mackenzie senior enjoying life out-front

Taylor Mackenzie has started the 2016 season like a man possessed. Three race wins, a second placed podium and four pole positions have catapulted the Ashby-de-la-Zouch rider to a welcome, if unexpected, 32 point Championship-lead after just four rounds of the 2016 season heading to Knockhill; in what is a highly-competitive Pirelli National Superstock 1000 field that includes Isle of Man TT race-winner Ian Hutchinson and former BSB riders Michael Rutter, Keith Farmer and Ben Wilson.

TaylorMacWeb

“I can’t really believe it myself if I’m honest. It was a long winter, working hard, training hard and testing. I thought we’d go ok, but until you get racing you really can’t tell; but to have that start to the year, it’s been unbelievable really.”

Quizzed on what he felt where the main ingredients in his blistering form this season, Mackenzie commented:

“When you go racing it’s not just about you being fast; you need the right team around you, the right bike and the right suspension; and this year I feel I have all those ingredients in place and the results have followed suit.

“It’s been good for me, as I just wanted to show everyone what I was capable of and that didn’t quite happen on the bikes I rode previously. But, those experiences have helped, I didn’t realise it at the time, but those ups and downs have definitely made me a better rider and everything just seems to have clicked this year.”

The Mackenzie clan have had a long association with Knockhill, with Dad Niall, still attending on a regular basis as Knockhill Motor Sports Club President and to oversee his own Trackday School. Make no bones about it; this is a ‘home round’ for both the Mackenzie brothers and perhaps the first time in a good few years where Scots fans can expect one of their own to be at the forefront on the National scene. Indeed, littered through the entire Superbike event programme there are Scots pushing for podiums in all the major classes (Superbike, Supersport, Stock 1000 and 600), which is an exciting prospect for all concerned.

“You know, Knockhill is always the one I want to win every year and it’s been a while since I’ve been in a position to go for that win, so I’m really looking forward to the race,” exclaimed Mackenzie with a sense of anticipation in his voice.

Mackenzie’s Buildbase BMW Motorrad team with Hawk Racing have been on an incredible run in 2016. Six meetings this season including the Isle of Man TT and the North West 200, and the team have taken at least one victory at every meeting; perhaps a sign of things to come at Knockhill?

Pics of the Taylor testing his practice bike at Knockhill:

Inevitably, when you mention Taylor, the younger sibling Taz follows into the conversation rather quickly. On that relationship, of which some of you will have no-doubt seen on various social media; Taylor had this to say:

“It works well between me and Taz. We’re both really competitive people and when it’s your own flesh and blood there seems to be more of an edge to things. We train together and take things quite seriously, we race going up the stairs, in fact we race against each other at just about everything; that’s maybe one of the reasons why we are both going to well at the moment.

And finally on Knockhill, “If we can do a Mackenzie double on the Sunday, that would be pretty awesome,” concluded Mackenzie.

The MCE British Superbike Championship event takes place over three-days from 24 to 26 June, featuring the UK’s premier motorcycle racing teams and riders all battling on the unique twists and dips of Knockhill for those coveted race-wins. Make sure you are here to see all the action unfold first-hand by booking tickets online now via the Knockhill.com website.

The Superbike-frenzy has well and truly started, come and join us for a stupendous weekend of bike racing.

BOOK TICKETS HERE!