{"id":1868233,"date":"2026-04-06T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-06T05:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1868233"},"modified":"2026-04-06T08:00:00","modified_gmt":"2026-04-06T05:00:00","slug":"rory-skinner-heads-home-with-a-smile-after-third-best-donington-bsb-test-time","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1868233","title":{"rendered":"Rory Skinner heads home \u201cwith a smile\u201d after third-best Donington BSB test time"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/ih_bsb_donington-test_03153.jpg?width=1600&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9&#8243;]<\/p>\n<article>\n<header id=\"lbs-article\" class=\"article header article-header section layout layout--article-header\">\n<div class=\"col headline\">\n<div>\n<h1>Rory Skinner heads home \u201cwith a smile\u201d after third-best Donington BSB test time<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"summary body\">\n<p>Rory Skinner was third-fastest at the Donington BSB test aboard the Yamaha R1 \u2013 his fifth bike in as many seasons.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"section two-column\">\n<div class=\"col article-info\">\n<div>\n<address> Alex Whitworth <\/address>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div><time datetime=\"2026-04-06T09:00:00+01:00\">06 Apr 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col article-actions\">\n<div class=\"block block-better-social-sharing-buttons block-social-sharing-buttons-block\">\n<div class=\"social-sharing-buttons\"><span class=\"ssb-title\"> Share<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div id=\"lbs-content\" class=\"content wide-two-column-sticky section layout layout--wide-two-column-sticky\">\n<div class=\"col first-column\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<figure> <source srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/ih_bsb_donington-test_03153.jpg?width=1920&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 1920w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/ih_bsb_donington-test_03153.jpg?width=1800&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 1800w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/ih_bsb_donington-test_03153.jpg?width=1600&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 1600w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/ih_bsb_donington-test_03153.jpg?width=1500&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 1500w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/ih_bsb_donington-test_03153.jpg?width=1200&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 1200w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/ih_bsb_donington-test_03153.jpg?width=900&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 900w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/ih_bsb_donington-test_03153.jpg?width=800&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 800w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/ih_bsb_donington-test_03153.jpg?width=600&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 600w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/ih_bsb_donington-test_03153.jpg?width=400&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 400w\" sizes=\"(min-width:1024px) 710px, (min-width:768px) 62vw, 97vw\" type=\"image\/webp\" \/><figcaption>\n<div>Rory Skinner, 2026 Donington Park BSB Test. Credit: Gold and Goose.<\/div>\n<div class=\"source\"> \u00a9\u00a0Ian Hopgood Photography<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"block block-preferred-source\">\n<div class=\"preferred-source-cta\">  Add as a preferred source <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"body\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Rory Skinner failed to set a time in the final session of the opening day of the Donington Park BSB test, but finished the second day having topped the second session and with the third-best time overall.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Skinner was behind only his Cheshire Mouldings Yamaha teammate Danny Kent and AJN Steelstock Bimota\u2019s Max Cook at the top of the times in what was his fourth day on the Yamaha R1 after two days of testing in Spain in March.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cI just got shown the combined times there, P3 overall, so pretty good,\u201d Skinner told Crash.net after the final session at Donington on Saturday.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cI\u2019m happy, I\u2019m starting to learn the Yamaha now, starting to ride it more like a Yamaha, how it should be ridden. Can\u2019t complain, it\u2019s been good.\u201d<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">For Skinner, the move to Yamaha in 2026 means a third different bike in three years of BSB, despite not moving teams in that time, but also a fifth different bike in the past five years having ridden the FS-3 Kawasaki in 2022 and the American Racing Kalex in Moto2 in 2023.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Skinner\u2019s speed in setting competitive times on the Yamaha stands out as a quick adaptation, but he was keen to point out he also adapted quickly to the Ducati last year from the BMW he rode in 2024, just he didn\u2019t immediately have the horsepower available to show it.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cThe Ducati, I actually feel like I clicked with it pretty quickly,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"ins-related_content dsp-related_content_in_article\">\n<h2>Read More<\/h2>\n<div class=\"related-content-in-body js-view-dom-id-1499e881141c893a31a20b5b4518983640e7372099e523afa8b67eeb4b198fee\">  Ryan Vickers makes \u201cbig steps\u201d after \u201ctough\u201d start to Donington BSB test   Max Cook revels in \u201cmega\u201d Bimota performance after topping Donington BSB test <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cHowever we had so many electrical issues with it last year, I think I did these two tests with 160bhp.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cSo, by the time we got to Oulton Park I ended up unlocking about another 80bhp and it all completely changed everything we\u2019d worked on in testing.\u201d<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">With Kent on the other side of the TAS Racing garage this year, Skinner has a teammate for the first time since he\u2019s been with the team run by Philip Neill, something he thinks has helped him and the TAS team get up to speed with the R1 given Kent\u2019s previous experience with the bike at Mar-Train in the past two seasons.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"ins-related_content dsp-related_content_in_article_2\">\n<h2>Read More<\/h2>\n<div class=\"related-content-in-body js-view-dom-id-4a262414dc7034544be3ffd5fdb20d3b2c84f83f0873aa084382f0a45fbab615\">  Donington BSB \u201cnot the easiest\u201d for one former race winner   Bradley Ray clear about areas to improve for BSB 2026 <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cHonestly, I\u2019m quite happy, I\u2019ve made some good progress with the Yamaha,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cIt\u2019s been a pretty smooth transition.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cObviously, it helps having Danny [Kent] and Chris [Anderson, Kent\u2019s crew chief] on the other side of the garage, they\u2019ve got a lot of experience with the Yamaha.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cIn general, I\u2019m pretty happy, I can go home with a smile on my face and I\u2019m looking forward to Oulton Park.\u201d<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Skinner added: \u201cMe and Danny have had a pretty long relationship, to be honest, we\u2019ve known each other for a long time.\u00a0<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cIt\u2019s good, teammates are never going to be your best friend but we\u2019ve got a good relationship, we\u2019ve got a good working relationship, and I think that\u2019s the main thing \u2013 there\u2019s not point making enemies in the garage when we\u2019re all against each other on the track.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cAt the minute it\u2019s been good.\u201d<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Despite the positive start, Skinner is focused on continuing to learn the Yamaha at the next test at Oulton Park rather than making specific changes to the bike.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cI\u2019m learning it [the Yamaha], my crew chief Stuart [Shenton] is learning it, the mechanics are learning it, so it\u2019s just a case of us all working it together,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cI\u2019ll go home, I\u2019ll sleep on it, I\u2019ll probably think of a few things, give Stuart a text and we\u2019ll figure it out.\u00a0<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cConsidering it\u2019s the first official test with it, I\u2019ve only done two days on it before now, to go away P3, me and Danny the two top Yamahas, it\u2019s good for TAS Racing.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<h2>In this article<\/h2>\n<div>\n<div class=\"field_keywords\">British Superbikes<\/div>\n<div class=\"field_keywords\">Donington Park<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"block block-next-prev\">\n<div class=\"next-prev-pager contextual-region\">\n<div class=\"items\">\n<div class=\"item prev\">\n<h3>  Previous<\/h3>\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\"> Max Cook revels in \u201cmega\u201d Bimota performance after topping Donington BSB test<\/div>\n<source srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/ih_bsb_donington-test_01510.jpg?width=1920&amp;format=webp 1920w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/ih_bsb_donington-test_01510.jpg?width=1800&amp;format=webp 1800w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/ih_bsb_donington-test_01510.jpg?width=1600&amp;format=webp 1600w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/ih_bsb_donington-test_01510.jpg?width=1500&amp;format=webp 1500w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/ih_bsb_donington-test_01510.jpg?width=1200&amp;format=webp 1200w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/ih_bsb_donington-test_01510.jpg?width=900&amp;format=webp 900w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/ih_bsb_donington-test_01510.jpg?width=800&amp;format=webp 800w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/ih_bsb_donington-test_01510.jpg?width=600&amp;format=webp 600w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/ih_bsb_donington-test_01510.jpg?width=400&amp;format=webp 400w\" sizes=\"(min-width:1024px) 710px, (min-width:768px) 62vw, 97vw\" type=\"image\/webp\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"item next\">\n<h3> Next <\/h3>\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\"> Ryan Vickers makes \u201cbig steps\u201d after \u201ctough\u201d start to Donington BSB test<\/div>\n<source srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/ih_bsb_donington-test_03119.jpg?width=1920&amp;format=webp 1920w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/ih_bsb_donington-test_03119.jpg?width=1800&amp;format=webp 1800w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/ih_bsb_donington-test_03119.jpg?width=1600&amp;format=webp 1600w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/ih_bsb_donington-test_03119.jpg?width=1500&amp;format=webp 1500w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/ih_bsb_donington-test_03119.jpg?width=1200&amp;format=webp 1200w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/ih_bsb_donington-test_03119.jpg?width=900&amp;format=webp 900w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/ih_bsb_donington-test_03119.jpg?width=800&amp;format=webp 800w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/ih_bsb_donington-test_03119.jpg?width=600&amp;format=webp 600w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/ih_bsb_donington-test_03119.jpg?width=400&amp;format=webp 400w\" sizes=\"(min-width:1024px) 710px, (min-width:768px) 62vw, 97vw\" type=\"image\/webp\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-author-block block block-configurable-views-block\">\n<div class=\"author-view grid-view js-view-dom-id-7575a26a44fc6ea4799c9d99f757c4122e80e2208ac68d9dea3abdb6ea06bf89\">\n<div class=\"card user default\">\n<div class=\"image\"> <source srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/pictures\/picture-100393850-1649415070.jpg?height=270&amp;format=webp 270w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/pictures\/picture-100393850-1649415070.jpg?height=180&amp;format=webp 180w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/pictures\/picture-100393850-1649415070.jpg?height=90&amp;format=webp 90w\" sizes=\"100px\" type=\"image\/webp\" \/><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\">\n<div class=\"header\">\n<div class=\"text\">\n<div class=\"name\">Alex Whitworth<\/div>\n<div class=\"role\">Journalist<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"desc\">\n<p>Alex joined the Crash.net team in August of 2024 having covered consumer and racing motorcycle news at Visordown for two years.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"views-element-container block block-views-blockrelated-content-related-content-block\">\n<h3>More News<\/h3>\n<div class=\"grid-view grid-2 js-view-dom-id-2528de2b855e90f6085a2fb62eb417c73b80ceb0011265be622502accec44bd2\">\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\">\n<div class=\"links\">\n<div class=\"sections\"> British Superbikes  Results <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>2026 BSB Donington Park Test Results: Day 2 Lap Times<\/p>\n<div class=\"card-info\">\n<div class=\"time\" data-timestamp=\"1775320260\"> 04\/04\/26<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/ih_bsb_donington-test_01653.jpg?aspect_ratio=1:1\" alt=\"Max Cook, 2026 Donington BSB Test. Credit: Ian Hopgood Photography.\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\">\n<div class=\"links\">\n<div class=\"sections\"> British Superbikes  News <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Scottish Superstock rider was \u201ctouch and go\u201d after horror Donington crash<\/p>\n<div class=\"card-info\">\n<div class=\"time\" data-timestamp=\"1764776266\"> 03\/12\/25<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2025-09\/grigor.png?aspect_ratio=1:1\" alt=\"Callum Grigor. Credit: Facebook\/Grigor Racing.\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\">\n<div class=\"links\">\n<div class=\"sections\"> British Superbikes  News <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Kyle Ryde gets first triple on \u201cabsolutely amazing\u201d return to Donington Park<\/p>\n<div class=\"card-info\">\n<div class=\"time\" data-timestamp=\"1757271602\"> 07\/09\/25<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2025-09\/ih_bsb_donington-park_171715-ryde-trophy.jpg?aspect_ratio=1:1\" alt=\"Kyle Ryde, BSB, 2025, Donington Park\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\">\n<div class=\"links\">\n<div class=\"sections\"> British Superbikes  News <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Rory Skinner \u201cfelt good to be leading a race again\u201d on way to third Donington podium.<\/p>\n<div class=\"card-info\">\n<div class=\"time\" data-timestamp=\"1757271358\"> 07\/09\/25<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2025-09\/ih_bsb_donington-park_168326-skinner-solo.jpg?aspect_ratio=1:1\" alt=\"Rory Skinner, BSB, 2025, Donington Park\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\">\n<div class=\"links\">\n<div class=\"sections\"> British Superbikes  News <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Scott Redding gives \u201cpayback\u201d to Leon Haslam with last lap move at Donington Park<\/p>\n<div class=\"card-info\">\n<div class=\"time\" data-timestamp=\"1757270626\"> 07\/09\/25<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2025-09\/ih_bsb_donington-park_171425-redding-ryde-2.jpg?aspect_ratio=1:1\" alt=\"Scott Redding, BSB, 2025, Donington Park\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\">\n<div class=\"links\">\n<div class=\"sections\"> British Superbikes  Results <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>2025 British Superbikes: Donington Park &#8211; Race Results (4)<\/p>\n<div class=\"card-info\">\n<div class=\"time\" data-timestamp=\"1757262340\"> 07\/09\/25<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2025-09\/ih_bsb_donington-park_167436-ryde-close_0.jpg?aspect_ratio=1:1\" alt=\"Kyle Ryde, BSB, 2025, Donington Park\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"summary body\">\n<p>Rory Skinner was third-fastest at the Donington BSB test aboard the Yamaha R1 \u2013 his fifth bike in as many seasons.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"body\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Rory Skinner failed to set a time in the final session of the opening day of the Donington Park BSB test, but finished the second day having topped the second session and with the third-best time overall.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Skinner was behind only his Cheshire Mouldings Yamaha teammate Danny Kent and AJN Steelstock Bimota\u2019s Max Cook at the top of the times in what was his fourth day on the Yamaha R1 after two days of testing in Spain in March.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cI just got shown the combined times there, P3 overall, so pretty good,\u201d Skinner told Crash.net after the final session at Donington on Saturday.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cI\u2019m happy, I\u2019m starting to learn the Yamaha now, starting to ride it more like a Yamaha, how it should be ridden. Can\u2019t complain, it\u2019s been good.\u201d<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">For Skinner, the move to Yamaha in 2026 means a third different bike in three years of BSB, despite not moving teams in that time, but also a fifth different bike in the past five years having ridden the FS-3 Kawasaki in 2022 and the American Racing Kalex in Moto2 in 2023.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Skinner\u2019s speed in setting competitive times on the Yamaha stands out as a quick adaptation, but he was keen to point out he also adapted quickly to the Ducati last year from the BMW he rode in 2024, just he didn\u2019t immediately have the horsepower available to show it.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cThe Ducati, I actually feel like I clicked with it pretty quickly,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"ins-related_content dsp-related_content_in_article\">\n<h2>Read More<\/h2>\n<div class=\"related-content-in-body js-view-dom-id-1499e881141c893a31a20b5b4518983640e7372099e523afa8b67eeb4b198fee\">  Ryan Vickers makes \u201cbig steps\u201d after \u201ctough\u201d start to Donington BSB test   Max Cook revels in \u201cmega\u201d Bimota performance after topping Donington BSB test <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cHowever we had so many electrical issues with it last year, I think I did these two tests with 160bhp.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cSo, by the time we got to Oulton Park I ended up unlocking about another 80bhp and it all completely changed everything we\u2019d worked on in testing.\u201d<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">With Kent on the other side of the TAS Racing garage this year, Skinner has a teammate for the first time since he\u2019s been with the team run by Philip Neill, something he thinks has helped him and the TAS team get up to speed with the R1 given Kent\u2019s previous experience with the bike at Mar-Train in the past two seasons.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"ins-related_content dsp-related_content_in_article_2\">\n<h2>Read More<\/h2>\n<div class=\"related-content-in-body js-view-dom-id-4a262414dc7034544be3ffd5fdb20d3b2c84f83f0873aa084382f0a45fbab615\">  Donington BSB \u201cnot the easiest\u201d for one former race winner   Bradley Ray clear about areas to improve for BSB 2026 <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cHonestly, I\u2019m quite happy, I\u2019ve made some good progress with the Yamaha,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cIt\u2019s been a pretty smooth transition.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cObviously, it helps having Danny [Kent] and Chris [Anderson, Kent\u2019s crew chief] on the other side of the garage, they\u2019ve got a lot of experience with the Yamaha.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cIn general, I\u2019m pretty happy, I can go home with a smile on my face and I\u2019m looking forward to Oulton Park.\u201d<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Skinner added: \u201cMe and Danny have had a pretty long relationship, to be honest, we\u2019ve known each other for a long time.\u00a0<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cIt\u2019s good, teammates are never going to be your best friend but we\u2019ve got a good relationship, we\u2019ve got a good working relationship, and I think that\u2019s the main thing \u2013 there\u2019s not point making enemies in the garage when we\u2019re all against each other on the track.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cAt the minute it\u2019s been good.\u201d<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Despite the positive start, Skinner is focused on continuing to learn the Yamaha at the next test at Oulton Park rather than making specific changes to the bike.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cI\u2019m learning it [the Yamaha], my crew chief Stuart [Shenton] is learning it, the mechanics are learning it, so it\u2019s just a case of us all working it together,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cI\u2019ll go home, I\u2019ll sleep on it, I\u2019ll probably think of a few things, give Stuart a text and we\u2019ll figure it out.\u00a0<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cConsidering it\u2019s the first official test with it, I\u2019ve only done two days on it before now, to go away P3, me and Danny the two top Yamahas, it\u2019s good for TAS Racing.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"body\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Rory Skinner failed to set a time in the final session of the opening day of the Donington Park BSB test, but finished the second day having topped the second session and with the third-best time overall.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Skinner was behind only his Cheshire Mouldings Yamaha teammate Danny Kent and AJN Steelstock Bimota\u2019s Max Cook at the top of the times in what was his fourth day on the Yamaha R1 after two days of testing in Spain in March.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cI just got shown the combined times there, P3 overall, so pretty good,\u201d Skinner told Crash.net after the final session at Donington on Saturday.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cI\u2019m happy, I\u2019m starting to learn the Yamaha now, starting to ride it more like a Yamaha, how it should be ridden. Can\u2019t complain, it\u2019s been good.\u201d<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">For Skinner, the move to Yamaha in 2026 means a third different bike in three years of BSB, despite not moving teams in that time, but also a fifth different bike in the past five years having ridden the FS-3 Kawasaki in 2022 and the American Racing Kalex in Moto2 in 2023.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Skinner\u2019s speed in setting competitive times on the Yamaha stands out as a quick adaptation, but he was keen to point out he also adapted quickly to the Ducati last year from the BMW he rode in 2024, just he didn\u2019t immediately have the horsepower available to show it.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cThe Ducati, I actually feel like I clicked with it pretty quickly,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"ins-related_content dsp-related_content_in_article\">\n<h2>Read More<\/h2>\n<div class=\"related-content-in-body js-view-dom-id-1499e881141c893a31a20b5b4518983640e7372099e523afa8b67eeb4b198fee\">  Ryan Vickers makes \u201cbig steps\u201d after \u201ctough\u201d start to Donington BSB test   Max Cook revels in \u201cmega\u201d Bimota performance after topping Donington BSB test <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cHowever we had so many electrical issues with it last year, I think I did these two tests with 160bhp.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cSo, by the time we got to Oulton Park I ended up unlocking about another 80bhp and it all completely changed everything we\u2019d worked on in testing.\u201d<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">With Kent on the other side of the TAS Racing garage this year, Skinner has a teammate for the first time since he\u2019s been with the team run by Philip Neill, something he thinks has helped him and the TAS team get up to speed with the R1 given Kent\u2019s previous experience with the bike at Mar-Train in the past two seasons.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"ins-related_content dsp-related_content_in_article_2\">\n<h2>Read More<\/h2>\n<div class=\"related-content-in-body js-view-dom-id-4a262414dc7034544be3ffd5fdb20d3b2c84f83f0873aa084382f0a45fbab615\">  Donington BSB \u201cnot the easiest\u201d for one former race winner   Bradley Ray clear about areas to improve for BSB 2026 <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cHonestly, I\u2019m quite happy, I\u2019ve made some good progress with the Yamaha,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cIt\u2019s been a pretty smooth transition.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cObviously, it helps having Danny [Kent] and Chris [Anderson, Kent\u2019s crew chief] on the other side of the garage, they\u2019ve got a lot of experience with the Yamaha.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cIn general, I\u2019m pretty happy, I can go home with a smile on my face and I\u2019m looking forward to Oulton Park.\u201d<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Skinner added: \u201cMe and Danny have had a pretty long relationship, to be honest, we\u2019ve known each other for a long time.\u00a0<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cIt\u2019s good, teammates are never going to be your best friend but we\u2019ve got a good relationship, we\u2019ve got a good working relationship, and I think that\u2019s the main thing \u2013 there\u2019s not point making enemies in the garage when we\u2019re all against each other on the track.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cAt the minute it\u2019s been good.\u201d<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Despite the positive start, Skinner is focused on continuing to learn the Yamaha at the next test at Oulton Park rather than making specific changes to the bike.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cI\u2019m learning it [the Yamaha], my crew chief Stuart [Shenton] is learning it, the mechanics are learning it, so it\u2019s just a case of us all working it together,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cI\u2019ll go home, I\u2019ll sleep on it, I\u2019ll probably think of a few things, give Stuart a text and we\u2019ll figure it out.\u00a0<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cConsidering it\u2019s the first official test with it, I\u2019ve only done two days on it before now, to go away P3, me and Danny the two top Yamahas, it\u2019s good for TAS Racing.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;http:\/\/crash.net\/bsb\/news\/1092881\/1\/rory-skinner-heads-home-smile-after-third-best-donington-bsb-test-time&#8221;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/ih_bsb_donington-test_03153.jpg?width=1600&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9&#8243;] Rory Skinner heads home \u201cwith a smile\u201d after third-best Donington BSB test time Rory Skinner was third-fastest at the Donington BSB test aboard the Yamaha R1 \u2013 his fifth bike in as many seasons. Alex Whitworth 06 Apr 2026 Share Rory Skinner, 2026 Donington Park BSB Test. Credit: Gold and Goose. \u00a9\u00a0Ian [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[47,226],"class_list":["post-1868233","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","tag-crash-net","tag-crawlmanager"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1868233","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1868233"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1868233\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1868233"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1868233"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1868233"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}