‘I’ll take things as they come’ Rory Skinner
MCN caught up with former BSB racer as he prepares for Moto2
Reporting from the heart of British bike racing
Rory Skinner’s dream of becoming a Grand Prix rider will become a reality in 2023 with his move to American Racing in Moto2. It’s a breakthrough moment for the young Scot, who, despite positive outings in the Red Bull Rookies, Junior World Championship and British Talent Cup, wasn’t able to progress into Moto3 as a teen. We caught up with the 21-year-old as he prepares for his new challenge on the world stage.
You have a two-year deal. How important was that for you?
“The two-year contract its critical because Moto2 is such a hard class and you’re racing against some of the best riders in the world, so you need to give yourself every opportunity that you possibly can. Trying to suss the bike out whilst learning the tracks at the same time, it’ll be difficult, but having the twoyear deal gives me some security. Obviously, I’m still going there to push my absolute hardest every weekend, the contract doesn’t change that, but it allows me think about things more, which takes some pressure off.”
How will you approach 2023 and your first full season in Moto2?
“I’ll take it step by step. We have the whole pre-season of training and testing ahead of us, so I can’t make any judgements right now. I’m looking forward to getting out there and doing my best. It’ll be tough, I’m under no illusions. Moto2 is basically a one-make series so it’s so close, but with this team and package, we can make progress through the year.”
Do you feel a lot of pressure and expectation on your shoulders?
“I’ll probably put more pressure and expectation on myself than anybody else will. Eitan [Butbul, Team Owner] and John [Hopkins, manager] and the team are really down-to-earth guys. They get the gist of racing. It’s the World Championship, everybody wants to win, but at the same time you’ve got to nurture the rider. With John being one of the greats of his era, he gets it, he understands it, and knows what it takes to make a good rider.”
Where do you want to be in 12 months’ time?
“I want to be comfortable, content, and happy with how I’ve performed and be comfortable on the bike, knowing that I haven’t peaked and that I’m consistently building. I won’t stop learning next year, there’s going to be plenty to take in. It’s going to be just as much of a challenge mentally as it is physically; adapting to the riding and travelling, it’s going to be tough but if I end the season happy with everything I’ve done, and feeling comfortable going into the offseason knowing what I have to do for the following season, that will be a good direction to go in.”
What did you learn from your wildcard rides in Moto2 this year?
“I learned something every time I rode the bike and left Austria with a much better understanding of how to ride it. It was challenging having Thruxton British Superbikes in-between and Cadwell Park straight after, if I’d have had back-to-back weekends on the Moto2 bike it would have helped me to understand more and keep the ball moving. Ultimately, you have to take these opportunities when they come, and I wouldn’t change it for the world. I felt comfortable and didn’t feel out of place. There’s plenty still to learn but there’s not one thing that I’m not looking forward to doing again. I’ll go back with a fresh mind and take things as they come.”
Jake Dixon’s current form in Moto2 is a promising sign…
“For Jake to come from British Superbikes with no GP experience, to now being a consistent frontrunner gives me hope that with my little bit of GP experience, I can go and start to progress towards what Jake’s done. It’s nice to see that there is a route there, but as I say, there’s going to be no-end of hard work throughout the winter and season to make sure I’m the best I can be for it. It’s good to see that it can work, and that hard work does pay off.”
How has British Superbikes prepared you for Moto2?
“Racing in BSB is close, it’s tight and often there’s some contact, so I don’t think there’s any reason to be scared or fearful of anybody in Moto2. I know how to get my elbows out and hold my ground, and be committed with my passes. I’ve learned plenty riding a Superbike, alongside my Supersport days, so it’s just finding a happy medium to make this Moto2 bike work.”
What did you enjoy most about BSB?
“Working with FS-3. I’ve had such a great time and made memories I’ll cherish forever. It’s like a big family and I have to thank them for letting me go and do the wildcards halfway through the season. It didn’t really benefit them, so it shows just how supportive Nigel [Snook] and Darren [Fry] are and how much they care about my future. They’ll always be friends and I feel I can rely on them if I ever need anything.”