Tarran Mackenzie's victory in Race 2 Supersport at Most with Midori Moriwaki's team is already history, like redemption at the height of known and unknown difficulties.
About Alessio Piana de Motoracing
To adopt purely Anglo-Saxon terminology, that of Tarran Mackenzie, his success with the team of Midori Moriwaki in Race 2 of the Supersport World Championship at Most is the most classic of “outsider” victories. As an outsider, on paper, at the same time the author of a great “upheaval”, by subverting any form of prediction. It couldn't be any other way: going from the satisfaction of the progress made to get closer to the top 20 (!) to winning a world race. The result of favorable circumstances, of a bet paid off, but with all the merit and fruition. “Underdog” victories always bring everyone together and excite everyone. However, with these surnames so famous in motorcycling, it seems odd to call them Tarran Mackenzie et Midori Moriwaki.
Thinking of Tarran Mackenzie, in 2023 everyone was asking themselves the following question: “ but who made him race in Supersport with the MIE Racing team? ". Even more so if with a Honda CBR 600RR far from being defined as competitive and, in the first rounds, not even approved. He, son of the family (the youngest among the racing sons of the legendary Niall), became the British Superbike champion two years ago. Why did you agree to get back in the saddle of a 600, a type of motorcycle with which you had not raced since 2017, and even more so not to be the most competitive of the lot?
In this sense, a premise is necessary. 'Taz', born in 1995 and still under 30, was burned by his fate in Moto2 in 2017. As the reigning British Supersport champion, undefeated in the opening races of the same season and with a McAMS contract Yamaha for BSB in his pocket, he decided to accept the offer from Kiefer Racing to replace Danny Kent in the Moto2 world championship. With an uncompetitive Suter, with broken promises, with a lot of money wasted for nothing. Having had this unforgettable experience, Tarran and dad Niall promised each other: “ never again ! ". From this moment on, they will never again take a penny out of their pocket to race or be forced to participate in a world championship without guarantee. Only as a professional, only with a certain status. For this reason, Mackenzie Jr. has rebuilt itself in the BSB, arriving in 2021 to conquer the title. In the first part of the season, he suffered the domination of his teammate Jason O'Halloran, changing pace at the most opportune times.
End of 2021, Mackenzie had received various offers to participate in the Superbike World Championship, as a privateer. Aware of what he experienced in 2017 in Moto2, he rejected this possibility, preferring to defend the No. 1 in BSB and, at the same time, with McAMS Yamaha to compete for three world wild cards with a view to 2023. A good project , spoiled by an unhappy 2022 season to say the least. Two-injuries-two (left ankle, right ankle, etc.) in pre-season, skipping the wild card at Assen, showing up for the next one at Donington in approximate conditions and, once the best physical shape was found, a third injury. Fighting for the podium, he fell at Oulton Park and was crushed by the innocent Peter Hickman. The season ended prematurely and, in effect, all doors closed for a possible move to the World Superbike Championship. The opportunity had vanished with his friend Bradley Ray, his successor in the gold register of the BSB, who had overtaken him in the hierarchies Yamaha .
Tarran Mackenzie and Midori Moriwaki dedicate their lives to motorcycles
From an economic point of view, the most attractive offer presented at the end of 2022 was that of Honda and the team MIE Racing. A year of suffering in Supersport, with guarantees of transition to Superbike for 2024, direct agreement with the parent company and summons for the Suzuka 8 Hours. Now or never, the right one Mackenzie accepted this proposal with conviction, maintaining a positive approach despite adversities. Take advantage of opportunities where possible. As was the case on Sunday in the Race 2 in Most or, last February, in similar conditions at Phillip Island, where he distinguished himself by even overtaking 3 drivers in one go on the outside.
Tarran Mackenzie thus becomes winner of a world race and, at the same time, the architect of the first success of the PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team of Midori Moriwaki. In prayer during the last laps of Race 2, in tears (of joy) for an unexpected victory, capable of rewarding a life dedicated to motorcycles. On the other hand, when you are the daughter (the third) of a monument like Mamoru Moriwaki and granddaughter of Hideo Yoshimura (his father married Namiko, 'Pop's eldest daughter), it could not be otherwise.
Midori has built a reputation in the industry not only as a “girl.” For the family business (incidentally: this year Moriwaki Engineering is celebrating the 50th anniversary of its foundation) she was the European representative for the marketing of the MD250H entered in various trophies and the glorious MD600 (the first Moto2 World Champion), s later establishing herself as manager during Moriwaki Racing's return to the Suzuka 4 and 8 Hours. She gained experience on the racing grounds and, in the meantime, established important international connections as a member of the Women's and FIM Road Racing Commissions, deciding at the end of 2019 to start her own company. By withdrawing from the family business, she founded MIE, an acronym for “Midori International Engineering”, without any corporate link with father Mamoru's Moriwaki Engineering. This is evidenced by the fact that the operational base is today at the Sachsenring (after an interlude in Prague) and not 1 meters as the crow flies from the Suzuka circuit.
If Moriwaki Engineering wears blue as its corporate colors (“For the sea and the sky”) and yellow (“For the earth”), MIE Racing has clearly taken… midori, that is to say green, as predominant color. Passing this year in the colors of the generous title sponsor PETRONAS, doubling the commitment between Superbike (where the results are what they are: non-existent) and Supersport. The midori of MIE Racing is a green hope for a bright future, trying to realize the dream of those who are no longer here.
Midori Moriwaki deserves respect for the “mission” of his project. As a young person, she was emotionally connected to Rei Sawada, a driver who competed in the All Japan 250 with Daijiro Kato et Shinya Nakano. During the third race of the 1998 season at Tsukuba on May 17, he had a dramatic accident while leading and ended up in a coma following a severe brain contusion he suffered. He died in hospital 5 months later, on October 12, aged just 24. A month before the accident, Rei told Midori that while he wasn't going to become world champion, he would like to help young drivers succeed. With his team Midori wants to pursue this goal.
As a first goal, Midori Moriwaki managed to guarantee Mackenzie his first world victory, in a period which could represent a new “sliding door” for him. Shortly after taking the top step of the podium in Most, he and Xavi Virgo took a flight organized by Honda for Suzuka. He will be a luxury reserve for Team HRC in the 8 hours, but with Josh Hook's injury he could be useful to the cause of FCC TSR Honda, the reigning EWC World Champion team. And that's not all: on the Suzuka 8 Hours weekend, the parent company will officially present the new CBR 600RR in the presence of all senior management. With Tarran, to be precise, present on site as winner of the last World Championship race in his category. Who knows, if in the near future he and Midori Moriwaki will no longer be recognized as effective “outsiders”…
