Jason O’Halloran will start race one at Brands Hatch from pole after topping qualifying in a McAMS 1-2 with a new record lap.

The Australian showed he had the confidence and pace for something special after topping FP3 earlier in the day. 

Clear track was an issue for all, and ‘The O Show’ hung back to find space after several runs saw him find riders ahead, leaving time to be had.

 

	British Superbikes Brands Hatch – Qualifying   Pos Rider Nat Team Time 1 Jason O’Halloran AUS McAMS Yamaha 1m24.433 2 Tarran Mackenzie GBR McAMS Yamaha +0.212s 3 Bradley Ray GBR RICH Energy OMG Racing Yamaha +0.476s 4 Tommy Bridewell GBR Oxford Products Racing Ducati +0.523s 5 Kyle Ryde GBR RICH Energy OMG Racing Yamaha +0.557s 6 Josh Brookes AUS MCE Ducati +0.626s 7 Rory Skinner GBR FS-3 Racing Kawasaki +0.748s 8 Ryan Vickers GBR FHO Racing BMW with Attis Sports +0.765s 9 Leon Haslam GBR Visiontrack Kawasaki =0.789s 10 Lee Jackson GBR FS-3 Racing Kawasaki +0.791s 11 Glenn Irwin GBR Honda Racing UK +0.879s 12 Tom Sykes GBR MCE Ducati =0.949s 13 Peter Hickman GBR FHO Racing BMW +1.027s 14 Danny Kent GBR Buildbase Suzuki +1.069s 15 Danny Buchan GBR SYNETIQ BMW Motorrad +1.126s 16 Christian Iddon GBR Buildbase Suzuki +1.212s 17 Chrissy Rouse GBR Crowe Performance BMW +1.435s 18 Andrew Irwin GBR SYNETIQ BMW Motorrad +1.472s     Q1     19 Josh Owens GBR CDH Racing Kawasaki 1m26.259s 20 Luke Mossey GBR TAG Racing Honda 1m26.339s 21 Dan Jones GBR Iforce BMW 1m26.485s 22 Dean Harrison GBR DAO Racing Kawasaki 1m26.534s 23 Tom Neave GBR Honda Racing UK 1m26.565s 24 Leon Jeacock GBR Specsavers Suzuki 1m26.571s 25 Takumi Takahashi JAP Honda Racing UK 1m26.579s 26 Ryo Mizuno JAP Honda Racing UK 1m26.634s 27 Storm Stacey GBR Team LKQ Euro Parts Kawasaki 1m26.710s 28 Dan Linfoot GBR IForce BMW 1m26.861s 29 Luke Hopkins GBR Black Onyx Security Honda 1m26.973s 30 James East GBR Kawasaki – NP Racing 1m27.763s 31 Liam Delves GBR CDH Racing Kawasaki 1m28.034s

O’Halloran snatched pole from his team-mate on a clear track, as the chequered flag waved, with a 1m24.433s effort – a new record lap of the Kent track.

The number 22 is currently second in the title hunt after double victory at Knockhill – now just twenty points behind title leader Bradley Ray, who will also line up on the front row.

 

 

Stage set for a comeback from reigning champion Mackenzie

The five week break between rounds was the perfect opportunity for Tarran Mackenzie to finalise his recovery from his pre-season injuries and bounce back to mount a late title charge. 

The McAMS rider has been in action in the break – with two top 15 finishes in the Donington WSBK round under his belt from his belated wildcard helping him get race ready.

Looking back to his best, the Scottish rider finished fourth on Friday, at a track where he saw great success in his title winning year – with a pole, a win and two podiums on his first visit and a trio of victories during the return for The Showdown.

He was sitting pretty at the top of the timesheets for most of the latter part of the session, only deposed by O’Halloran as the clock hit zero, finishing just 0.212s slower on a lap where he had needed to pass Christian Iddon, which saw him to his first front row visit of the 2022 season.

Getting his weekend of to the finest of starts, Bradley Ray had started his weekend by topping both Friday sessions, setting his own personal best lap of the Kent track in the process.

Building on that, which saw him straight trough to Q2, the Yamaha man went on to claim third as he and the Rich Energy OMG team looked for improvements for the race, completing an all Yamaha front row.

Tommy Bridewell’s late push saw him move up to fourth as the best Ducati rider for Oxford Products.

Kyle Ryde had needed a trip through Q1, which he topped. The second of the rich Energy OMG Yamaha bikes will fill fifth on the grid as he continued to lower his time in Q2 as the last rider under the 1m25s benchmark.

Josh Brookes was sixth for MCE Ducati, just ahead of Rory Skinner, who picked up places after his trip through the gravel on the Cheshire Mouldings FS-3 Kawasaki.

Ryan Vickers will line up eighth as the best performing BMW for FHO Racing with Attis Sports.

Leon Haslam has a new suspension package as he tries to find something to move him into the showdown. The VisionTrack Kawasaki rider will sit in ninth.

Lee Jackson will be looking to extend his good run of form from tenth for Cheshire Mouldings FS-3 Kawasaki.

 

BSB Brands Hatch Lap record: Josh Brookes – Yamaha – 1m 24.873s (2017)

2021 Race Winners:

Round 3 
Race 1: Tarran Mackenzie
Race 2: Jason O’Halloran
Race 3: Christian Iddon

Round 11 (The Showdown)
Race 1: Tarran Mackenzie
Race 2: Tommy Bridewell
Race 3: Jason O’Halloran

 

Elsewhere, Andrew Irwin (Synteiq BMW Mottorad) was confident enough that he was going to progress from Q1 that he skipped the final few minutes of that session, sat in the pits. He moved on but was rooted to the bottom of the timesheets in 18th.

Danny Kent passed his time at the end of Q1 and went on to make the most of his Q2 time, he will start 14th for Buildbase Suzuki.

His team-mate Iddon is riding with injury and that left him down in 16th.

What else happened in Q1?

Josh Owens came closest to progression and was briefly in the top six before finishing the session seventh for Rapid CDH Kawasaki, so he will line up 19th.

Dan Linfoot (BMW iForce Lloyd & Jones) didn’t leave the pits until the final two minutes of the first qualifying session, limiting his chance of progress and leaving him 16th in the session, for 28th on the grid.

Jason O’Halloran made a late break after a frantic battle over the last few laps to win the Sprint Race around the Brands Hatch GP circuit, the first race of round five of the championship.

The McAMS Yamaha rider lead home a team 1-2 echoing their qualifying performance, where the Australian had showed his immense pace with a lap record.

British Superbikes Brands Hatch Race Result (1)   Pos Rider Nat Team Time 1 Jason O’Halloran AUS McAMS Yamaha 21m26.871s 2 Tarran Mackenzie GBR McAMS Yamaha 0.665s 3 Tommy Bridewell GBR Oxford Products Racing Ducati 1.056s 4 Bradley Ray GBR RICH Energy OMG Racing Yamaha 1.353s 5 Kyle Ryde GBR RICH Energy OMG Racing Yamaha 4.411s 6 Josh Brookes AUS MCE Ducati 5.502s 7 Rory Skinner GBR FS-3 Racing Kawasaki 6.140s 8 Leon Haslam GBR Visiontrack Kawasaki 6.761s 9 Lee Jackson GBR FS-3 Racing Kawasaki 6.969s 10 Christian Iddon GBR Buildbase Suzuki 10.355s 11 Peter Hickman GBR FHO Racing BMW 10.402s 12 Danny Kent GBR Buildbase Suzuki 16.201s 13 Tom Sykes GBR MCE Ducati 16.515s 14 Andrew Irwin GBR SYNETIQ BMW Motorrad 22.018s 15 Josh Owens GBR CDH Racing Kawasaki 22.700s 16 Luke Mossey GBR TAG Racing Honda 23.201s 17 Tom Neave GBR Honda Racing UK 23.442s 18 Takumi Takahashi JAP Honda Racing UK 23.865s 19 Luke Hopkins GBR Black Onyx Security Honda 29.552s 20 Dan Jones GBR Iforce BMW 32.052s 21 Leon Jeacock GBR Specsavers Suzuki 33.629s 22 Ryo Mizuno JAP Honda Racing UK 34.383s 23 Liam Delves GBR CDH Racing Kawasaki 14 laps 24 James East GBR Kawasaki – NP Racing 14 laps 25 Danny Buchan GBR SYNETIQ BMW Motorrad 8 laps 26 Ryan Vickers GBR FHO Racing BMW with Attis Sports 7 laps 27 Dean Harrison GBR DAO Racing Kawasaki 5 laps 28 Storm Stacey GBR Team LKQ Euro Parts Kawasaki 2 laps 29 Dan Linfoot GBR IForce BMW 2laps 30 Glenn Irwin GBR Honda Racing UK 0 laps 31 Chrissy Rouse GBR Crowe Performance BMW 0 laps

The Australian showed confidence leading the race after his storming start and any overtake was immediately fought back from. After surviving his own wobble, his team-mate Tarran Mackenzie had his own moment on the Yamaha, allowing O’Halloran the opportunity to pull out a small gap, which he managed to the line as the battle for position continued to roar on behind him.

‘The O Show’ now has five wins in seven and three in a row after his strong showing at Knockhill. 

The Exhilarating battle for second saw Tarran Mackenzie claim his first podium of the season.

 

 

Comeback complete for Mackenzie

With the five week break allowing his broken bones to heal and recent track experience after his belated World Superbike wildcard taking place over the summer Tarran Mackenzie looked ready to mount his title defence.

Fourth on Friday, became a front row start and then his first front row after putting in several passes at Druids, the most used overtaking spot. His final lunge saw him claim second from Tommy Bridewell to complete a perfect end to the 15 lap sprint for McAMS. Mackenzie is the tenth different rider to grace the podium this season.

The Scottish rider will also line up on pole tomorrow after setting the fastest lap in the race. 

Tommy Bridewell qualified fourth but initially dropped back into a battle for sixth with Josh Brookes and Rory Skinner. The Ducati rider worked hard to push his way into the lead group and held his own, as high as second before  being shuffled back a place in the closing stages.

His perseverance meant the Ducati rider was able to put a halt to the Yamaha dominance of recent podiums for Oxford Products Ducati.

Bradley Ray converted his first Brands front row into a fourth place finish as he was the last of the podium possibles to cross the line.

 

Where does the result leave the championship standings?

O’Halloran’s win sees him cut Bradley Ray’s lead to just four points, with Ray on a total of 229 after his off the podium finish.

Lee Jackson is their next closest rival in the standings on 181. Josh Brookes moves into the top eight showdown places after Danny Buchan was one of many rider not to finish the race.

On track it was Kyle Ryde who was the best of the rest leading the next group of riders over the line after a gap from his Rich Energy OMG Racing Yamaha team-mate.

MCE Ducati’s Brookes, who started from a much improved sixth on the grid, passed and pulled away from Skinner (Cheshire Moulding FS-3 Kawasaki) to take sixth, with the Scottish rider next to see the flag in seventh.

Leon Haslam was close behind in eighth on the VisionTrack Kawasaki, keeping Lee Jackson (Cheshire Mouldings FS-3 Kawasaki at bay in ninth. 

Christian Iddon made up six places in the pace to complete the top ten for Buildbase Suzuki.

 

Old BSB Brands Hatch Lap Record: Josh Brookes – Yamaha – 1m 24.873s (2017)

New BSB Brands Hatch Lap Record: Jason O’Halloran – Yamaha – 1m 24.433s (2022)

2021 Race Winners:

Round 3

Race 1: Tarran Mackenzie

Race 2: Jason O’Halloran

Race 3: Christian Iddon

Round 11 (The Showdown)

Race 1: Tarran Mackenzie

Race 2: Tommy Bridewell

Race 3: Jason O’Halloran

 

Peter Hickman was close behind in eleventh for FHO Racing BMW, before a gap until Danny Kent reached the line on the second Buildbase Suzuki.

The remaining points went to Tom Sykes as he continues to struggle to break into the top ten for MCE Ducati in 13th, Andrew Irwin in 14th for SYNETIQ BMW Motorrad and Josh Owens in 15th with Rapid CDH Kawasaki, his first points finish of the season.

Luke Mossey (TAG Racing Honda) and Honda Racing’s Tom Neave narrowly missed out in 16th and 17th respectively.

Luke Hopkins (Black Onyx Security Honda) made up the most places in the race, up ten positions to finish 19th.
 
Glenn Irwin who was the best of the Honda’s on the grid in eleventh,  and had changed his swingarm looking for answers to his issues. We never found out if he had found the solution as he was first to exit at turn two.

Chrissy Rouse didn’t even make it to the grid, pulling back into the pits after the warm-up lap.

Dan Linfoot and Storm Stacey also pulled back into the pits early in the race.

Of all the riders to crash out of contention Ryan Vickers had been doing the best, running inside the top ten when he lost the front end at Druids.

 

 

As their rivals faded away it was a last lap battle royale which decided the third and final race at Brands Hatch, with Tarran Mackenzie coming out in front to finish round five with a second win.

Mackenzie, who became the sixth different winner of the season courtesy of his victory in race two, was in front, Jason O’Halloran stalking behind hoping to pounce on an error.

British Superbikes Brands Hatch Race Results (3)   Pos Rider Nat Team Time 1 Tarran Mackenzie GBR McAMS Yamaha 28.45.305s 2 Jason O’Halloran AUS McAMS Yamaha +0.037s 3 Glenn Irwin GBR Honda Racing UK +3.543s 4 Bradley Ray GBR RICH Energy OMG Racing Yamaha +3.818s 5 Tommy Bridewell GBR Oxford Products Racing Ducati +5.009s 6 Leon Haslam GBR Visiontrack Kawasaki +5.139s 7 Kyle Ryde GBR RICH Energy OMG Racing Yamaha +7.531s 8 Peter Hickman GBR FHO Racing BMW +11.754s 9 Rory Skinner GBR FS-3 Racing Kawasaki +16.043s 10 Lee Jackson GBR FS-3 Racing Kawasaki +16.350s 11 Christian Iddon GBR Buildbase Suzuki +16.582s 12 Andrew Irwin GBR SYNETIQ BMW Motorrad +16.609s 13 Danny Buchan GBR SYNETIQ BMW Motorrad +18.069s 14 Takumi Takahashi JAP Honda Racing UK +21.734s 15 Chrissy Rouse GBR Crowe Performance BMW +26.606s 16 Josh Owens GBR CDH Racing Kawasaki +26.663s 17 Luke Mossey GBR TAG Racing Honda +26.826s 18 Luke Hopkins GBR Black Onyx Security Honda +40.261s 19 Dean Harrison GBR DAO Racing Kawasaki +40.752s 20 Storm Stacey GBR Team LKQ Euro Parts Kawasaki +40.822s 21 Ryo Mizuno JAP Honda Racing UK +42.564s 22 Leon Jeacock GBR Specsavers Suzuki +42.646s 23 James East GBR Kawasaki – NP Racing +45.182s 24 Tom Neave GBR Honda Racing UK 15 laps 25 Danny Kent GBR Buildbase Suzuki 14 laps 26 Dan Jones GBR Iforce BMW 11 las 27 Liam Delves GBR CDH Racing Kawasaki 7 laps 28 Josh Brookes AUS MCE Ducati 0 laps 29 Tom Sykes GBR MCE Ducati DNS 30 Ryan Vickers GBR FHO Racing BMW with Attis Sports DNS

The #1 plate was smooth and faultless out front so the Australian saved up his big final move heading into the final turns, starting the lunge at Stirlings, with the pair side by side coming out of Clearways for a grandstand photo finish.

Mackenzie, who had started on pole once again thanks to his earlier performance, fought back to cross just 0.037s ahead of his team-mate.

O’Halloran kept pushing despite feeling a fall coming twice on the exhilarating final lap to take second, the MCAMS riders in 1-2 formation for all three races this weekend, a first for the Yamaha team.

Glenn Irwin stages podium return

Glenn Irwin had lead for much of the race before being swallowed by the duo, who pulled the pin on him once out in front. The Honda Racing rider fell back into a battle for third with Bradley Ray which he was determined to win, to secure his first podium visit since he dominated the opening weekend with three wins.

Ray found himself fourth again, which limited his access to the podium points for the showdown, despite some bike changes on the Rich Energy OMG Yamaha to try and save his rostrum form, which has deserted him when he needs it most.

Oxford Products Ducati’s Tommy Bridewell couldn’t make another podium comeback so this time settled for a solid fifth, pressured all the way by Leon Haslam, who turned his further improved fourth on the grid into sixth in the race for VisionTrack Kawasaki.

Kyle Ryde was a lonely seventh on the second Rich Energy Yamaha bike, not able to catch the duo ahead but clear of Peter Hickman in eighth, a return to the form he was showing before Knockhill for FHO Racing BMW.

An early error saw Rory Skinner drop well outside of the top ten, but the Cheshire Holdings FS-3 Kawasaki rider fought back to claim ninth after passing Lee Jackson (MCE Ducati) late in the race.

Christian Iddon made up the most places from the grid positions, finishing eleventh after a determined run on the Buildbase Suzuki, thirteen places higher than he started. His team-mate Danny Kent was one of several riders to pull into the pits.

Andrew Irwin put his earlier fall behind him, back in the points in twelfth for SYNTEIQ BMW Motorrad, after a close finish with Iddon.

Old BSB Brands Hatch Lap Record: Josh Brookes – Yamaha – 1m 24.873s (2017)
New BSB Brands Hatch Lap Record: Jason O’Halloran – Yamaha – 1m 24.433s (2022)

Race One Result:
1:Jason O’Halloran
2:Tarran Mackenzie
3:Tommy Bridewell

Race Two Result:
1:Tarran Mackenzie
2:Jason O’Halloran
3:Tommy Bridewell

2021 Race Winners:

Round 3 
Race 1: Tarran Mackenzie
Race 2: Jason O’Halloran
Race 3: Christian Iddon

Round 11 (The Showdown)
Race 1: Tarran Mackenzie
Race 2: Tommy Bridewell
Race 3: Jason O’Halloran

 

Takumi Takahashi (Honda Racing UK) was 14th. Chrissy Rouse said on the grid he’d like to score a point at Brands Hatch, which he did, keeping both Josh Owens ans Luke Mossey behind him in the approach to the chequered flag.

Tom Sykes left he grid five minutes before the start of the race, there was an issue with smoke seen at the bottom of his MCE Ducati on the out lap. He was not the only big name to endure an early exit with Josh Brookes also failing to register a lap.

Ryan Vickers was absent for the final race after sustaining a small fracture to his right hand earlier in the day.

Where does that leave the championship and the podium points?

After taking over at the top with his race two result, second again cements Jason O’Halloran’s position as the new title leader after Brands Hatch.

The #22 now has a total of 265 and 37 podium points to his name. That takes him 10 points clear in the title hunt, with Ray also having less podium points with 30 after his two fourth places on Sunday.

Lee Jackson may not have had his strongest weekend but he remains third overall, but Glenn Irewin who is sixth has two more podium points to his credit with 18. Roey Skinner remains fourth and Kyle Ryde fifth.

The final two showdown shots are now occupied by Tommy Bridewell in seventh and Tarran Mackenzie, who displaces Danny Buchan following his Brands Hatch comeback. 

 

The reigning champion had been building back to full fitness after his pre-season injuries had seen him not able to attend and register points at the first two rounds.

Points had been slowly coming to the number one plate but crashes in race weekends were still a concern.

The five week break was a welcome chance to heal and finished with a return to track as Mackenzie completed his long overdue wildcard appearance in WSBK, helping him arrive race-ready at the Kent track.

Fourth after Friday, the Scottish rider then built into the weekend, converting a front row place into second in the sprint.

Recovery complete, Mackenzie had even more to offer on Sunday. An emotional, dominant win of race one showed he still had what it takes to fight for the title. That win was backed up by another victory in round three, a fiery grandstand finish between himself and McAMS team-mate Jason O’Halloran.

Speaking of the contrast between the two results Mackenzie said:

‘I’ve kind of had two completely different races, the first one was out front leading, just kind of racing my pitboard, but today was just hectic, it felt like we were never going to get past Glenn, no-one could pass him!”

Once the duo had removed Irwin from the equation, the final removal from the early lead pack, it went down to the very last corners to see who would win.

“I was completely sideways!”

The final lap saw O’Halloran, who had been sat in patiently behind, make his move:

“I know he’s (O’Halloran ) strong into Stirling so I went defensive, then I braked so deep into the final cornerthat the forks went metal to metal, just bouncing back, nearly poked me in the eye! He came flying by and I went  ‘there’s no way he’s stopping that’  and to be fair to him, if I hadn’t driven underneath him I think he probably would have got it.”

The win elevates Mackenzie into The Showdown places for the first time with his double win adding valuable podium points to his cause. The Yamaha man also picked up the King of Brands Hatch trophy and the Rider of the Round awards.

Jason O’Halloran bridged the summer gap by adding the sprint race win on Saturday to his double on Sunday at Knockhill. The Australian then topped morning warm up showing he had frontrunner pace for the final two races.

Learning from the best

The number 22 finished second in both, seeing the gap increase as he tried to pass Bradley Ray in race two, but learning all he could behind Mackenzie in race three, who he considers superior at Brands Hatch, while looking to pounce on an error, which never came from the smooth Scot.

“ He’s always been a little bit stronger than me here, so it was really good for me to sit in behind him and then on the last lap I knew where I was going to make a pass if I was close enough.”

“ I probably went through with a little bit too much speed, bounced the front off the bottom twice, ran wide, then Taz came back under me, I nearly got back by to the line but just missed out.”

“He Isn’t just going to ride past me!”

Glenn Irwin had lead for much of the race before the Yamaha train he was expecting finally arrived. The Honda man had noticed that unlike the McAMS who have finished top two each race, Bradly Ray had instead been dropping off as races have progressed, which gave him hope of holding onto a podium finish.

“When I got to the lead, obviously, I expect them to go by, considering the pace that they have, not just here, but everywhere”.

“When those two went by me I knew Bradley (Ray) wouldn’t be getting it easy wit his tyre wear… with six laps to go I thought ‘I’m going to give it everything I’ve got. He isn’t just going to ride past me, I’m not going to give away a podium at this stage”.

Bradley Ray was fourth twice – damage limitation after fading back in the races, but it means the local rider misses out on valuable podium points ahead of the rapidly approaching Showdown.

The title standings after Brands Hatch see O’Halloran take over at the top with a total of 265 and 37 podium points to his name, the most of anybody.

Old BSB Brands Hatch Lap Record: Josh Brookes – Yamaha – 1m 24.873s (2017)
New BSB Brands Hatch Lap Record: Jason O’Halloran – Yamaha – 1m 24.433s (2022)

Race One Result:
1:Jason O’Halloran
2:Tarran Mackenzie
3:Tommy Bridewell

Race Two Result:
1:Tarran Mackenzie
2:Jason O’Halloran
3:Tommy Bridewell

Race Three Result:
1:Tarran Mackenzie
2:Jason O’Halloran
3:Glenn Irwin

2021 Race Winners:

Round 3 
Race 1: Tarran Mackenzie
Race 2: Jason O’Halloran
Race 3: Christian Iddon

Round 11 (The Showdown)
Race 1: Tarran Mackenzie
Race 2: Tommy Bridewell
Race 3: Jason O’Halloran

Ray is now second overall ten points behind the Yamaha rider and with 30 podium points.

Lee Jackson remains third overall on 187 after losing his momentum, picking up just a 9th in the sprint and tenth in race three, with a rare DNF in between.

Rory Skinner also endured a torrid time – the Cheshire Mouldings FS-3 Kawasaki rider stays fourth after a middling 6th in the sprint and 7th in race two, with valuable points save as he fought back to ninth in today’s final run around the Kent track.

Kyle Ryde is fifth after a similar run, with Glenn Irwin sixth – his triple win at the first round added to his rostrum place today sees him with a healthier podium points tally than many of those ahead of him with 16.

Tommy Bridewell sits seventh, while two wins move Mackenzie into eighth,the final spot, overtaking Danny Buchan.