Redemption Time for McAMS Racing at Thruxton
After a two week break, the seventh round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Thruxton offers an opportunity for redemption for McAMS Racing and Danny Kent, who endured a challenging weekend at Brands Hatch last time out.
The family-run outfit return to track action at the weekend, in a bid to secure a host of important championship points and claw their way back up the standings.
After a host of challenges and two unfortunate DNFs at Brands Hatch, the team slipped down to fifth overall having spent much of the first half of the year fighting within the top 3.
After six rounds, Kent holds his position as the second Yamaha in the standings, sandwiched between the two OMG GRILLA Yamaha riders of Kyle Ryde and Ryan Vickers.
As Thruxton approaches, Kent sits 37 points behind Ryde and just two points ahead of Ryan Vickers in sixth.
While a trio of races await, both rider and team are flooded with the ambition of regaining their position as lead Yamaha in the series, with eyes set on making improvements from a difficult weekend two weeks ago.
The championship’s seventh outing of the season is a home round for the former Moto3 World Champion of Kent. The circuit, fast and flowing in nature, plays into his strengths on track.
The Yamaha R1, with its unmatched capability of carrying dominant corner speed, has proven consistently to be a perfect match with the 2.3-mile circuit, having claimed victory in every race at the venue since 2021.
Continuing on from a strenuous campaign at Brands Hatch, McAMS Racing and Kent can still take confidence in their ability to be competitive.
In 2023, the rider from Tetbury rode to a coup of top-ten finishes, quickly settling into a positive rhythm around the fast and flowing Thruxton circuit.
Last year, McAMS Racing’s owners, Mar-Train Racing secured a best result of fifth across the line, proving to possess competitive form which they hope to carry forward into the weekend.
As the championship continues, so too does the charge to secure a further host of podium finishes.
With four top-three finishes already in their back pocket as the season progresses, Kent and the team are eager to add to their pre-existing tally.
Three races, including one shorter sprint race over the course of the weekend, provides three opportunities to improve from the challenges last time out.
With track action beginning with Free Practice 1 on Friday at 12:25, it’s full focus on what lies ahead.
Danny Kent
Rider
“I’m looking forward to Thruxton and feel excited to get back out on my McAMS Racing Yamaha R1. It’s a local circuit to me and a track that I love racing around. The Yamaha is also one of the strongest bikes around there, so we have to work hard together as a team to make the most out of the package we have. As always, the plan is to go out in every session and push 100%, improving as the weekend goes on.”
Tim Martin
Team Owner
“Thruxton this weekend looks likely to be a warm one. The team have had a few weeks off to reset and recharge the batteries after Brands Hatch. Thruxton has been a good circuit for Yamaha in the past so we’re excited to see how the weekend pans out for us. Thankfully, Danny has fully recovered from his small wrist injury at the last round. I believe that we’re in a good position moving towards the weekend, to jump back in and see what we can achieve. Brands Hatch was a disappointing weekend, but we’re only looking forward in the hope of matching the form that we demonstrated towards the opening stages of the season.”
