Reigning Bennetts British Superbike Champion Tarran Mackenzie will make his long-awaited WorldSBK debut as a wilcard at Donington Park next month.

Mackenzie will race a World Superbike specification R1 for his McAMS Yamaha team as it makes a one-off appearance on the world stage.

"I am very excited to finally make my debut in the Superbike World Championship at Donington. It feels like it's been a long time coming and I was obviously disappointed when we couldn't do Assen," said Mackenzie.

"Donington is a special track for me as it's only 10 minutes down the road from home, I've had some great success there in BSB so I am looking forward to getting out on a World Superbike-spec R1 and seeing what both myself and the McAMS Yamaha team can achieve.

"Obviously there is a lot to learn with the engine and electronics, but I know the chassis well as my BSB bike is very similar. The level in World Championship is really high and I'm looking forward to getting out on track and giving it our all.

'I have to say a huge thanks to Steve and the McAMS Yamaha team, as well as Andrea and everyone at Yamaha Racing for making this possible."
 
While the 26-year-old will have to quickly familiarise himself with the WorldSBK specification engine and Magneti Marelli electronics, the chassis of his BSB R1 is almost identical to that of the official WorldSBK teams and naturally, both Mackenzie and McAMS Yamaha have extensive experience of the Donington Park Grand Prix layout.

The Leicestershire track is just ten minutes up the road from Mackenzie’s Ashby de la Zouche home and was the scene of one of his most commanding victories in the 2021 Showdown, which saw him carve through the pack to take the win.