We at the Bike Directory had been looking forward to Thruxton for some time, partly because it is one of our favourite tracks (and our most local) and because we were able to attend in person. It was an opportunity for us to once again see racing up close and personal. As well as to do some research for our project in conjunction with Movember/DGR, the Social Connections Challenge, which we are very proud to be a part of.
To add to that, we were guests of the McAMS Yamaha Team, and we took Henry Crew along (our friend and ambassador co-ordinator) who, despite holding the record for the youngest person to circumnavigate the World on a motorcycle, had never been to a motorcycle race! So it’s a big shout out to Chris Lane and all those at McAMS Yamaha who made our Saturday so enjoyable. Martin (our project leader) and Henry had a chat with Tarran Mackenzie, and we will be following on with Taz in a full interview soon.
We also met up with Rory Skinner, FS-3 Racing Kawasaki, who blazed at Knockhill and Brands and who’s performing way above his rookie status. As you probably know we have been following Rory for some years now, and it was good to finally meet. This meeting confirmed what we have always said, that he is a personable and exceptional young man. We will catch up with Rory soon for a chat, and print that asap.
Another rider we met up with is local to us, Rossi Banham, 17, who rides in the Honda British Talent Cup. We first met Rossi in a pub when he was fifteen! (just to explain we used to show the MotoGP a local pub, and yes, he was accompanied!). We had a brief chat and will follow up with Rossi soon.
Bike Social Race One/Saturday 15 Laps
The grid for race one was Pole: Jason O’Halloran, McAMS Yamaha, P2 Glenn Irwin, Honda Racing and P3 Peter Hickman, FHO Racing BMW.
It was mostly sunny for the start of the race, and great to hear the superbikes screaming around the sweeping Thruxton circuit once again after the absence in 2020. It was Jason O’Halloran who shot away from the start line on his McAMS Yamaha, with Glenn Irwin and Peter Hickman following, so it was grid order on lap one. Joe Francis and Kyle Ryde had an early exit from the race which then brought out the safety car as part of the fence was damaged. The marshals quickly fixed the fence and after a few careful laps, the race was once again underway, with O’Halloran judging the re-start perfectly and storming away as the safety car pulled into the pit road.
By lap 5 of the total 15, it was Jason O’Halloran in the lead with Peter Hickman and now Christian Iddon in P2 and P3. This was how it remained until lap 13 when Christian Iddon slid under Peter Hickman to take P2, O’Halloran comfortably ahead at this stage. Lap 14 saw Glenn Irwin get P3 with Iddon P2 and Jason in the lead, however, quickly, things changed as Irwin lost the rear end and slid off the track. With Irwin’s bike obstructing the track, the race was red-flagged.
It was an assured win for Jason O’Halloran, McAMS Yamaha, P2 Christian Iddon, Vision Track Ducati and P3 Peter Hickman FHO Racing BMW. Tarran Mackenzie had a difficult race compounded by a long lap penalty and finished P9. Rory Skinner, on a track new to him on the superbike, finished 14th.
Race Two: Sunday 20 Laps
The grid for race two was Lee Jackson FS-3 Racing Kawasaki on pole, P2 Jason O’Halloran McAMS Yamaha and P3 Glenn Irwin Honda Racing. Championship leader Christian Iddon, Vision Track Ducati was P4 and Tarran Mackenzie McAMS Yamaha was P7.
Jason O’Halloran put the power down right off the grid and lap one had him in the lead with Glenn Irwin and Lee Jackson tucked in behind. By lap 6, O’Halloran was leading with Glenn Irwin P2 and Ryan Vickers now P3. Lap nine saw Vickers take a long lap penalty and risking another one as he re-entered and baulked Bradley Ray as he did so. That left O’Halloran in the lead with Glenn Irwin P2 and Christian Iddon P3. Tarran Mackenzie was P5.
Lap 10 was all drama as Lee Jackson took out Christian Iddon, in what Iddon himself later described as a racing incident, and Jackson ran over to Iddon immediately after the crash, concerned and apologetic at the same time. This left Jason O’Halloran P1 with Glenn Irwin P2 and now Tarran Mackenzie P3.
Lap 19 and it was an absolute scrap between Bradley Ray and Ryan Vickers in P2 and P3 with Tarran Mackenzie holding on in P4, then pushing into P2 with a very determined and clean overtaking move on Ray and Vickers. Last lap and Ryan Vickers clipped the kerb and hit the tarmac. Rider OK but gutted after a brilliant race for the RAF Regular and Reserve Kawasaki rider.
So over the line, it was Jason O’Halloran, McAMS Yamaha the winner, with teammate Tarran Mackenzie, McAMS Yamaha P2 and Glenn Irwin, Honda Racing P3. A great one/two from McAMS Yamaha, and a good recovery from Tarran after a difficult Saturday.
Race Three 20 Laps
The grid line-up was a familiar sight, Jason O’Halloran on pole, Glenn Irwin P2 and Tarran Mackenzie P3.
With clouds overhead and the track very damp, it was Jason O’Halloran off the line first with McAMS Yamaha teammate Tarran Mackenzie tucked in behind him, but soon it was Peter Hickman SYNETIQ BMW Motorrad who overtook them both for the lead. Rory Skinner FS-3 Racing Kawasaki moved into a sensational P5. By lap two it was Peter Hickman P1, Tarran P2 and Lee Jackson P3, O’Halloran P4 and Skinner P5.
By lap 10 it was Jason O’Halloran in the lead, Danny Buchan P2 and Peter Hickman P3, with a drying track and a mixture of tyres through the field, it was tricky conditions for everyone battling it out over the sweeping corners of the Thruxton track. Lap 17 and it was O’Halloran in the lead, Danny Buchan, P2 and a charging Danny Kent on his Buildbase Suzuki P3. Rory Skinner pulled into the pits, seemingly struggling on his fully wet set up, with only a few laps to go.
Over the line, it was Jason O’Halloran McAMS Yamaha for a clean sweep of all three races over the weekend, P2 Danny Buchan SYNETIQ BMW Motorrad and Danny Kent P3, Buildbase Suzuki.
There is now a break until round 5 at Donington Park, 13-15 August. So we will catch up with things there, meanwhile, look out for our rider features.
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Author: Martin Northern
Founder of Bike Directory
