BSB: Supersport ride for BTC champ Skinner

Published: 09 March 2019

Chris Walker with Rory Skinner on Kawasaki ZX-6Rs

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British Talent Cup champion, Rory Skinner will compete in British Supersport this year riding a Kawasaki ZX-6R supported by Chris Walker.

Skinner was left without a ride at the end of the 2017 season when his title sponsor, the Racing Steps Foundation pulled out of the Spanish CEV Moto3 series. An eleventh hour lifeline saw him line up in the inaugural British Talent Cup, which he would go on to win.

Chris Walker Kawasaki will provide a 2019 Kawasaki ZX-6R for the 17-year-old’s privately run squad in 2019.

“I’m really delighted to have the support of Chris for my debut supersport season,” said Rory. “I raced a ZX-6R in the Scottish championships and some national superstock races last year, so I am happy to stay in the Kawasaki family and know that the characteristics of the bike suit me.

“With some of my other plans falling through, we found our options have been quite limited, so having the support of Chris and Kawasaki has really been a saviour for my season.

“Chris is a legend among British Superbike fans and the respect he has within the paddock is immense. I’m very grateful to him for providing a bike and for giving me the benefit of his vast experience.”

Chris Walker has been following Skinner’s career for years and has been impressed by what he has seen so far.

“I actually first met Rory many years ago. His dad, Mike, came to the Chris Walker Race School and was very fast, so when his son started racing I kept my eye on him. It would have been a tragedy if a rider of Rory’s talent was without a ride this year and I am delighted to be in a position, with Kawasaki UK’s support, to help him out.

“I’ve been in and around the British championship paddock for some 25 years now and hopefully my experience and contacts can be of help to Rory. He has a lot of potential and it will be good if we can even play a small part in helping him reach the top of the sport.”

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By Ben Clarke

Deputy Head of Digital (Motorcycling), Ben Clarke began riding (legally) at 21-years-old when he passed his direct access one month before shipping his Yamaha XT660 R to Miami and embarking on a 13,500-mile tour of the USA and Central America. He's worked at MCN for the last six years, riding everything from super nakeds and superbikes to small-capacity electrics and scooters across several continents. In more recent years, he's worked closely with the bike kit team to bring you all the latest news and reviews about the bike-related products we all use every day.

Chris Walker with Rory Skinner on Kawasaki ZX-6Rs