{"id":1871856,"date":"2026-04-08T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-08T06:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1871856"},"modified":"2026-04-08T09:00:00","modified_gmt":"2026-04-08T06:00:00","slug":"why-the-donington-test-was-a-proof-of-concept-for-one-bsb-team","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1871856","title":{"rendered":"Why the Donington test was a proof of concept for one BSB team"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/ih_bsb_donington-test_01653_0.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>Why the Donington test was a proof of concept for one BSB team<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"summary body\">\n<p>Bimota BSB boss Nigel Snook feels his team\u2019s performance at the Donington test was a proof of concept.<\/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=\"2026-04-08T10:00:00+01:00\">08 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_01653_0.jpg?width=1920&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 1920w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/ih_bsb_donington-test_01653_0.jpg?width=1800&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 1800w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/ih_bsb_donington-test_01653_0.jpg?width=1600&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 1600w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/ih_bsb_donington-test_01653_0.jpg?width=1500&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 1500w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/ih_bsb_donington-test_01653_0.jpg?width=1200&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 1200w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/ih_bsb_donington-test_01653_0.jpg?width=900&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 900w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/ih_bsb_donington-test_01653_0.jpg?width=800&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 800w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/ih_bsb_donington-test_01653_0.jpg?width=600&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 600w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/ih_bsb_donington-test_01653_0.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>Max Cook, 2026 Donington Park BSB test. Credit: Ian Hopgood Photography.<\/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\">The Donington BSB test was a kind of proof of concept for the AJN Steelstock Bimota team, owner Nigel Snook thinks.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">The FS-3 team has generally been one that has looked to young riders in BSB. Lee Jackson, Rory Skinner, and most recently Max Cook are all examples of this.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Cook was arguably the star performer of the Donington test, finishing fastest and lapping in the 1m27s in four out of six sessions in the Bimota KB998\u2019s first official outing in BSB specification.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cWhat they [Kawasaki] were looking for [from the Bimota] was better stability under braking, more accuracy of steering, and just generally a tighter bike,\u201d said Snook, speaking to Crash.net at the Donington BSB test on 4 April between sessions two and three.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cMax [Cook] rode it for the first time at Portimao [on 9\u201310 March] at the World Superbike test when the weather was a bit \u2018iffy\u2019. When he got off the bike he was asked by the Kawasaki engineer, the Provec [Racing] chief engineer, to describe the bike in a very simple way. Max just smiled and said \u2018It\u2019s a race bike\u2019.\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\">\u201c[The engineer] said \u2018That\u2019s good, that\u2019s what Alex Lowes said the first time he rode it\u2019.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cMax came up the Moto3 route: here [British Talent Cup], Red Bull Rookies, Junior World Championship. Max says it\u2019s like a Moto3 bike on steroids. He said it goes where you look, it stops, and he said \u2018I can\u2019t stop smiling when I\u2019m riding it\u2019. He said it\u2019s a complete bike.\u201d<\/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-d5d260d277058367cdd1551dedea819928087f20a03db38754b805a32a6a4a16\">  Rory Skinner heads home \u201cwith a smile\u201d after third-best Donington BSB test time   Ryan Vickers makes \u201cbig steps\u201d after \u201ctough\u201d start to Donington BSB test <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Snook added: \u201cWe\u2019re very aware that there\u2019s one or two new Ducatis on the way with Scott Redding and what have you, but if you\u2019d have offered this test six weeks ago when we were still waiting for parts we\u2019d have bitten your arm off.\u201d<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">While Cook was topping the times, his rookie teammate Joe Talbot, who was brought in this year to replace 41-year-old Christian Iddon, was around a second slower, which Snook said was initially a disappointment to the 22-year-old.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cMax is showing his true potential, he\u2019s stepping up to be \u2013 not that we call it team leader, but he knows he\u2019s the senior rider,\u201d Snook began.<\/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-5e7ee05994216ac2ce29a0f2a11a5113534b7077fe81a7ee65051853841662a6\">  Max Cook revels in \u201cmega\u201d Bimota performance after topping Donington BSB test   Donington BSB \u201cnot the easiest\u201d for one former race winner <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cJoe [Talbot] has been very calm, very focused. He was looking a bit sad yesterday because \u2013 you could sense \u2013 he thought he should\u2019ve been doing a bit better.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cBut we pointed him out that he was one second off of Max, Bradley Ray, Ryan Vickers.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cObviously, he thinks he should be 0.3 seconds off. But he\u2019s been very calm, he\u2019s not getting frustrated \u2013 he realises now how much there is to learn.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cBefore, he thought \u2018You get on a bike, you crack the throttle, you jam the brakes on, and the rest\u2026\u2019 But now he\u2019s learning to work with an engineer properly, with a suspension technician properly.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cAll of his data is looking good, he\u2019s learning the right techniques.\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\">\u201cWe\u2019ve got Alex Lowes in the garage giving them hints and tips \u2013 as much about attitude as riding the bike, [&#8230;] you aren\u2019t going to go faster by getting frustrated, you\u2019ll go slower.\u201d<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Ultimately, the performances of Cook and Talbot were, to Snook, evidence that the way he wants to run his team is a valid one.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cSo, to have an apprentice come good, and to have a new apprentice [starting well]&#8230; at FS-3, that\u2019s what we\u2019ve always done,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cIt\u2019s partly because I don\u2019t want to pay 40-year-olds loads of money to go round and round in circles, I want to pay kids who desperately want to win, and that\u2019s what we\u2019re doing.\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\"> 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-7906244832ca8cf7ce4267cce6527b6a994d54b573b22c0dc3efe113613dcf6e\">\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-5a34b6486691866862f7650227f8becfef0f3c008f0d2afb8ade7c0d7b1aca57\">\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>Bradley Ray clear about areas to improve for BSB 2026<\/p>\n<div class=\"card-info\">\n<div class=\"time\" data-timestamp=\"1775326988\"> 04\/04\/26<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/ih_bsb_donington-test_03073.jpg?aspect_ratio=1:1\" alt=\"Bradley Ray, 2026 Donington Park 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  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>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"summary body\">\n<p>Bimota BSB boss Nigel Snook feels his team\u2019s performance at the Donington test was a proof of concept.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"body\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\">The Donington BSB test was a kind of proof of concept for the AJN Steelstock Bimota team, owner Nigel Snook thinks.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">The FS-3 team has generally been one that has looked to young riders in BSB. Lee Jackson, Rory Skinner, and most recently Max Cook are all examples of this.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Cook was arguably the star performer of the Donington test, finishing fastest and lapping in the 1m27s in four out of six sessions in the Bimota KB998\u2019s first official outing in BSB specification.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cWhat they [Kawasaki] were looking for [from the Bimota] was better stability under braking, more accuracy of steering, and just generally a tighter bike,\u201d said Snook, speaking to Crash.net at the Donington BSB test on 4 April between sessions two and three.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cMax [Cook] rode it for the first time at Portimao [on 9\u201310 March] at the World Superbike test when the weather was a bit \u2018iffy\u2019. When he got off the bike he was asked by the Kawasaki engineer, the Provec [Racing] chief engineer, to describe the bike in a very simple way. Max just smiled and said \u2018It\u2019s a race bike\u2019.\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\">\u201c[The engineer] said \u2018That\u2019s good, that\u2019s what Alex Lowes said the first time he rode it\u2019.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cMax came up the Moto3 route: here [British Talent Cup], Red Bull Rookies, Junior World Championship. Max says it\u2019s like a Moto3 bike on steroids. He said it goes where you look, it stops, and he said \u2018I can\u2019t stop smiling when I\u2019m riding it\u2019. He said it\u2019s a complete bike.\u201d<\/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-d5d260d277058367cdd1551dedea819928087f20a03db38754b805a32a6a4a16\">  Rory Skinner heads home \u201cwith a smile\u201d after third-best Donington BSB test time   Ryan Vickers makes \u201cbig steps\u201d after \u201ctough\u201d start to Donington BSB test <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Snook added: \u201cWe\u2019re very aware that there\u2019s one or two new Ducatis on the way with Scott Redding and what have you, but if you\u2019d have offered this test six weeks ago when we were still waiting for parts we\u2019d have bitten your arm off.\u201d<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">While Cook was topping the times, his rookie teammate Joe Talbot, who was brought in this year to replace 41-year-old Christian Iddon, was around a second slower, which Snook said was initially a disappointment to the 22-year-old.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cMax is showing his true potential, he\u2019s stepping up to be \u2013 not that we call it team leader, but he knows he\u2019s the senior rider,\u201d Snook began.<\/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-5e7ee05994216ac2ce29a0f2a11a5113534b7077fe81a7ee65051853841662a6\">  Max Cook revels in \u201cmega\u201d Bimota performance after topping Donington BSB test   Donington BSB \u201cnot the easiest\u201d for one former race winner <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cJoe [Talbot] has been very calm, very focused. He was looking a bit sad yesterday because \u2013 you could sense \u2013 he thought he should\u2019ve been doing a bit better.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cBut we pointed him out that he was one second off of Max, Bradley Ray, Ryan Vickers.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cObviously, he thinks he should be 0.3 seconds off. But he\u2019s been very calm, he\u2019s not getting frustrated \u2013 he realises now how much there is to learn.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cBefore, he thought \u2018You get on a bike, you crack the throttle, you jam the brakes on, and the rest\u2026\u2019 But now he\u2019s learning to work with an engineer properly, with a suspension technician properly.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cAll of his data is looking good, he\u2019s learning the right techniques.\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\">\u201cWe\u2019ve got Alex Lowes in the garage giving them hints and tips \u2013 as much about attitude as riding the bike, [&#8230;] you aren\u2019t going to go faster by getting frustrated, you\u2019ll go slower.\u201d<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Ultimately, the performances of Cook and Talbot were, to Snook, evidence that the way he wants to run his team is a valid one.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cSo, to have an apprentice come good, and to have a new apprentice [starting well]&#8230; at FS-3, that\u2019s what we\u2019ve always done,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cIt\u2019s partly because I don\u2019t want to pay 40-year-olds loads of money to go round and round in circles, I want to pay kids who desperately want to win, and that\u2019s what we\u2019re doing.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"body\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\">The Donington BSB test was a kind of proof of concept for the AJN Steelstock Bimota team, owner Nigel Snook thinks.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">The FS-3 team has generally been one that has looked to young riders in BSB. Lee Jackson, Rory Skinner, and most recently Max Cook are all examples of this.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Cook was arguably the star performer of the Donington test, finishing fastest and lapping in the 1m27s in four out of six sessions in the Bimota KB998\u2019s first official outing in BSB specification.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cWhat they [Kawasaki] were looking for [from the Bimota] was better stability under braking, more accuracy of steering, and just generally a tighter bike,\u201d said Snook, speaking to Crash.net at the Donington BSB test on 4 April between sessions two and three.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cMax [Cook] rode it for the first time at Portimao [on 9\u201310 March] at the World Superbike test when the weather was a bit \u2018iffy\u2019. When he got off the bike he was asked by the Kawasaki engineer, the Provec [Racing] chief engineer, to describe the bike in a very simple way. Max just smiled and said \u2018It\u2019s a race bike\u2019.\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\">\u201c[The engineer] said \u2018That\u2019s good, that\u2019s what Alex Lowes said the first time he rode it\u2019.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cMax came up the Moto3 route: here [British Talent Cup], Red Bull Rookies, Junior World Championship. Max says it\u2019s like a Moto3 bike on steroids. He said it goes where you look, it stops, and he said \u2018I can\u2019t stop smiling when I\u2019m riding it\u2019. He said it\u2019s a complete bike.\u201d<\/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-d5d260d277058367cdd1551dedea819928087f20a03db38754b805a32a6a4a16\">  Rory Skinner heads home \u201cwith a smile\u201d after third-best Donington BSB test time   Ryan Vickers makes \u201cbig steps\u201d after \u201ctough\u201d start to Donington BSB test <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Snook added: \u201cWe\u2019re very aware that there\u2019s one or two new Ducatis on the way with Scott Redding and what have you, but if you\u2019d have offered this test six weeks ago when we were still waiting for parts we\u2019d have bitten your arm off.\u201d<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">While Cook was topping the times, his rookie teammate Joe Talbot, who was brought in this year to replace 41-year-old Christian Iddon, was around a second slower, which Snook said was initially a disappointment to the 22-year-old.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cMax is showing his true potential, he\u2019s stepping up to be \u2013 not that we call it team leader, but he knows he\u2019s the senior rider,\u201d Snook began.<\/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-5e7ee05994216ac2ce29a0f2a11a5113534b7077fe81a7ee65051853841662a6\">  Max Cook revels in \u201cmega\u201d Bimota performance after topping Donington BSB test   Donington BSB \u201cnot the easiest\u201d for one former race winner <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cJoe [Talbot] has been very calm, very focused. He was looking a bit sad yesterday because \u2013 you could sense \u2013 he thought he should\u2019ve been doing a bit better.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cBut we pointed him out that he was one second off of Max, Bradley Ray, Ryan Vickers.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cObviously, he thinks he should be 0.3 seconds off. But he\u2019s been very calm, he\u2019s not getting frustrated \u2013 he realises now how much there is to learn.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cBefore, he thought \u2018You get on a bike, you crack the throttle, you jam the brakes on, and the rest\u2026\u2019 But now he\u2019s learning to work with an engineer properly, with a suspension technician properly.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cAll of his data is looking good, he\u2019s learning the right techniques.\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\">\u201cWe\u2019ve got Alex Lowes in the garage giving them hints and tips \u2013 as much about attitude as riding the bike, [&#8230;] you aren\u2019t going to go faster by getting frustrated, you\u2019ll go slower.\u201d<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Ultimately, the performances of Cook and Talbot were, to Snook, evidence that the way he wants to run his team is a valid one.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cSo, to have an apprentice come good, and to have a new apprentice [starting well]&#8230; at FS-3, that\u2019s what we\u2019ve always done,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cIt\u2019s partly because I don\u2019t want to pay 40-year-olds loads of money to go round and round in circles, I want to pay kids who desperately want to win, and that\u2019s what we\u2019re doing.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;http:\/\/crash.net\/bsb\/news\/1092903\/1\/why-donington-test-was-proof-concept-one-bsb-team&#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_01653_0.jpg?width=1600&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9&#8243;] Why the Donington test was a proof of concept for one BSB team Bimota BSB boss Nigel Snook feels his team\u2019s performance at the Donington test was a proof of concept. Alex Whitworth 08 Apr 2026 Share Max Cook, 2026 Donington Park BSB test. Credit: Ian Hopgood Photography. \u00a9\u00a0Ian Hopgood Photography Add [&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-1871856","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\/1871856","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=1871856"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1871856\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1871856"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1871856"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1871856"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}