13-year-old from Scotland gets international Moto3 race backing
13-year-old from Scotland gets international Moto3 race backing
News release
Reigning Aprilia Superteens motorcycle champion Rory Skinner (Perth, Scotland) has been selected to join the Racing Steps Foundation’s rider line-up for a two-pronged international campaign in 2015.
The 13-year-old Scot has won the RSF’s backing to compete in the national RFME (Royal Spanish Motorcycling Federation) Moto3 Spanish Cup and selected rounds of the FIM (International Motorcycling Federation) Moto3 Junior World Championship run by MotoGP rights holder Dorna.
The teenage tyro – who has racked up 12 national junior championships since 2010 – will join Moto3 World Championship front-runner John McPhee (Oban, Scotland) on the RSF’s motorcycle racing roster.
The private, not-for-profit fund – which provides comprehensive support packages for promising, young British racing drivers and riders – will place Skinner with the highly-respected British KRP squad run by former racer turned team boss Mark Keen.
Skinner will race KRP-Honda and FTR-KTM 250cc singles in the two lightweight class series.
“This is a dream come true,” he said. “My parents have invested so much in me to get me to the point where I can make this step up to international competition with the backing of the RSF. I can’t thank either of them enough.
“Racing in Spain against some of the world’s top riders at this level will be tough. But I’m up for the challenge and hope to repay the faith the foundation is showing in me with a string of competitive rides.”
RSF founder Graham Sharp said: “Rory has shown in a short space of time that he has a winning mentality and is fully deserving of the foundation’s backing. We’re delighted to welcome him into the fold.
“We believe he has both the talent and the determination to make it all the way into MotoGP and an eventual full-time professional ride and we’ll be giving him all the support he needs to prove he’s capable of getting there.”
The Racing Steps Foundation is a private, not-for-profit fund that provides and finances competition and performance development programmes for young British motorcycle racers and racing drivers.
The backing is provided for those with the exceptional talent and determination needed to climb to the top of their respective motorsports ladders but who have neither the funds nor the all-important management and mentoring needed to get there.
The Foundation, set up in 2007, aims to fast-track its protégés to the point where they can eventually turn professional.
In addition to Rory Skinner, in 2015 it will support: John McPhee (Oban, Argyll, Scotland) in the Moto3 World Championship; Jack Harvey (Bassingham, Lincolnshire) in Indy Lights in the USA; Oliver Rowland (Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire) in Formula Renault 3.5; Jake Dennis (Nuneaton, Warwickshire) in the FIA Formula 3 European Championship; Ben Barnicoat (Chesterfield, Derbyshire) in Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0; and karting graduate Josh Smith (Arnside, Cumbria) in the new MSA Formula (FIA F4).
