Perth’s rising motorcycle racing star Rory Skinner will return to the FIM (International Motorcycling Federation) Moto3 Junior World Championship in 2016 with continued backing from the Racing Steps Foundation.
The 14 years-old Perth High School pupil will again ride with the RSF’s partner team KRP, run by former racer turned team boss Mark Keen.
Skinner, who was too young to race in the first seven races of the 12-round 2015 championship, ended the season in 19th place in the standings after sealing a top-five finish in the finale at Valencia earlier this month.
He also rounded off his rookie year in international competition with seventh place in Spain’s national RFME (Royal Spanish Motorcycling Federation) Moto 3 Championship.
Skinner, who has also been invited back to compete in next year’s Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup, will race the 250cc KRP-engineered FTR-KTM bike in the 12-race Moto3 Junior World Championship.
“Rory is thoroughly deserving of the RSF’s continued support,” said RSF motorcycle racing co-ordinator Peter Ball.
“Racing on the continent for the first time is a really tough undertaking for British riders. So for Rory to acclimatise so well to the fast, wide and flowing circuits in Spain in such a short space of time, and to give as good as he got racing against much older and more experienced riders was no mean achievement.
“On the basis of what he’s achieved this year both his and the RSF’s expectations are high heading into 2016.”
The rider’s campaign kicks off on April 17 at Valencia. His Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup season gets underway at Jerez at the end of March.