New Tyco Suzuki recruit Taylor Mackenzie gives a run down on his debut for the Irish based team at last weekend's opening Motorpoint British Supersport Championship round at Brands Hatch in Kent.

After what seems like the longest winter I've ever had to endure, I'm glad to say I had a successful first outing on my Tyco Suzuki GSX-R600 at Brands Hatch during the first round of the Motorpoint British Supersport Championship last weekend.

I worked really hard on my fitness over the winter with double World Supersport champion Andrew Pitt and it has certainly paid off. I came home with ninth and 11th-placed finishes from my two races at Brands, which leaves me ninth overall in the championship standings.

Considering I've had next to no track time on the bike, I was pleased with my results. My best lap time was a second faster than last year and only half-a-second off the lap record. The pace at the front is really fast this year, but I'm hoping it won't be too long until I'm joining them. I have slotted into the Tyco Suzuki team really well and I couldn't have asked for a better crew around me this year than Danny Horne and Derek Huxley - they're great guys and we work really well together. So I need to say a big thank you to them for their hard work over the weekend.

I also enjoyed meeting up with sponsors and guests up in the Tyco Suzuki hospitality unit over the weekend. There's such a good atmosphere in this camp, which I think is helped by the Irish influence and the banter away from the track is great. It was also strange but good fun to be interviewed in the unit on race day by my dad Niall who is also part of the team set-up this season doing the rider interviews.

I was also pleased to see my new AGV helmets turn up at Brands Hatch. They have been painted by Image Design Custom and I hope you'll agree - combined with my new Tyco Suzuki livery - they have turned out great.

It's a mad panic now to unpack and re-pack everything for Thruxton this weekend. I'm looking forward to getting some more track time on my GSX-R600, especially as Thruxton is so much fun to ride. I can't wait to get back out there. Make sure you come over and say hello.

Oh yes, I better say well done to my brother Tarran who won the first round of the British Motostar Championship at Brands and also set the fastest lap. It was his first-ever British championship win, so hopefully it's going to be a good year for the Mackenzie clan.

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