After a difficult start to the 2024 WorldSBK se💯ason, positive signs were there for Tarran Mackenzie and the PETRONAS MIE Honda team.

The Malaysian-b꧅acked team are not running the same machinery as Team HRC, 𓄧and with the factory Honda team also struggling, good results have been very few and far between for several seasons. 

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But Mackenzie was able to deliver a very impressive performance in Assen🌸.

Speaking about his breakthrough round where𝓡 he achieved a best of 11th༒, Mackenzie said: “It was a stronger weekend overall and the wet sessions just helped me build confidence and it was more of a level playing field.

“I had some good results, was a bit better in Superpole and closer to the gu༒ys in front. In the Superpole Race, I felt like I messed up a little bit; I felt like I could have been stronger in the opening laps but I was determined to have a good start.🍰 

“It made such a difference getting dragged round with the likes of Garrett and Xavi. It was cool from that side; we caught Rinaldi and th🍌en it was us three towards the end.

“I tried my best to pass them both but couldn’t do it; Garrett r✤an wide and then I managed to get by so to finish right behind 🐻Xavi is great, as well as being in the mix and scoring points. It was really positive.”

🌜With a lack of pre-season testing at his disposal compared to other teams, Mackenzie was already on the backfoot heading into his first full WorldSBK campaign.

But the former BSB champion saw updates come h🅘is way in Assen which aided the performance.

“It was a struggle for sure and in Australia, we had nꦰo testing rea🌟lly compared to anyone else,” said Mackenzie.

“We didn’t have the bike we’re riding now until the Tues♍day before Australia, then I crashed, the weather didn’t help and it was just a bit of a struggle.

“Having Mick [Shanley] in my 🍨corner from the Barcelona test onwards, I made a big step and was a bit closer to the factory guys in Barcelona and had a bit of a better race there.

“Then, we made ♏another step here even if it was hard. We didn’t get many dry laps so we went back to base setting from Barcelona.

“In theᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚ rain, we were a lot stronger so it was nice to see some light at the end of the tu𒆙nnel and a bit more positivity lifts the whole morale of the team.”

In terms of what he wants to achieve going forward, Mackenzie is aiming to break into thꦅe top ten in the coming rounds.

Mackenzieꦏ said: “Everyone’s working hard and trying their best with the package we’ve got.

“We’re always tr🐎ying to think of new things and in the wet and dry, try to be quit꧋e competitive.

“OK, it’s not top ten andꦫ at the front but I think with what we’ve got, we’re doing a pretty good job. We’ve scored an 11th so for sure, the next goal is the top ten.”