Image: Supplied.

Brands Hatch marked the final round of the 2023 British Superbike Championship (BSB), and also closed the curtains on the stint of Raceways Motorcycles running the official Yamaha Motor UK team, with Jason O’Halloran believing he and the outfit can ‘look back on what we achieved with great pride’.

It was announced in August that Raceways Motorcycles, the team known as McAMS Yamaha, would step down from its role running the Yamaha official team in BSB at the conclusion of the season.

2023 marked O’Halloran’s fifth year with the team, and he has amassed a number of race wins and podium success in his tenure within the program, capped off at Brands Hatch with a pole position and second-place finish in the sprint race.

Running a special 2017-inspired livery as a nod to team boss Steve Rodgers, Sunday wasn’t smooth sailing for the number 22, with a crash in race two impacting his entire day. Nonetheless, O’Halloran looks back on the journey across the last five years with great pride ahead of his move to the FS-3 Racing Team next year.

“After yesterday’s race I was really confident we could have a strong end to the season today, I felt really good in the dry and lining up pole gave us a chance,” said O’Halloran.

“We got a good start and I was feeling really strong, when the safety car came out I think the tyres just cooled that little bit too much and as I tipped in to Surtees the front just went so early without warning. It was a huge shame as I was biding my time and we saw that some of our rivals on the harder tyre were struggling even towards the end so with the SCX in I’m confident we could have had a result.

“Unfortunately, following the crash the brakes just didn’t feel quite right in the final race, and a few other things, meaning we couldn’t challenge like we had in the first two races.

“It’s a shame to end this way, but I think together with the team we can look back on what we’ve achieved with great pride. We’ve had an incredible journey over the last five years and I wish everyone all the success in their next steps. A huge thanks to Steve Rodgers, Wendy, Tina and all the other people who make this happen.”

O’Halloran ultimately concluded the final round with a 2-DN-6 scorecard, and was P6 in the final standings of the 2023 British Superbike Championship. The title was ultimately won by a mere half-point in favour of Tommy Bridewell (BeerMonster Ducati).