The latest development in the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship’s silly season concerns the German Ducati Independent team and their English rider, Scott Redding (MGM BONOVO Racing). As Redding competed in early July at British Superbikes’ last round at Knockhill, and now allegedly is committed to compete in their upcoming round at Brands Hatch, MGM BONOVO has elected to replace him with Scottish-born rider Tarran ‘Taz’ Mackenzie.

For Mackenzie, this will be his second WorldSBK stint of his third season in the Championship, following his start with the PETRONAS MIE Honda Racing Team; however, he parted ways with the Honda independent outfit after the Pirelli Emilia-Romagna Round. Despite their mutual decision to call it quits following Misano, ‘Taz’ was having one of his strongest years in the Championship, earning his best-ever WorldSBK result in Assen’s Tissot Superpole Race in a point-scoring P9. Balaton Park Circuit’s Hungarian Round will mark the first time riding with Ducati machinery for the #95 across his three seasons in WorldSBK and his single 2023 season in WorldSSP.

On his return to WorldSBK, the 29-year-old Mackenzie said: “I’m really happy to be back on the grid and especially with a team like MGM BONOVO. A well-established team plus a really nice bike to go with it! Everything is going to be new to me this weekend in all aspects, including the track, but I’m really excited to start riding again after not racing since Misano. It’s not going to be easy for sure, but luckily, I have a good team around me with some experienced people to make the transition a lot easier. I have no expectations this weekend other than just to learn and have fun again. I can’t wait!”