06-07-2025
Rory Skinner helps secure TAS Racing's first ever British Superbike victory at Knockhill
Skinner halted championship leader Bradley Ray's run of eight successive victories with a steely ride in challenging wet conditions to delight the home crowd.
The race was red-flagged twice because of poor conditions and track contamination before finally taking place over a reduced distance of 16 laps.
Skinner took the lead on the opening lap from Ray (Raceways Yamaha) and never looked back, gradually easing away to win by four seconds on the Cheshire Mouldings Ducati, denying former champion Ray a third consecutive BSB treble following hat-tricks at Donington Park and Snetterton.
It was an emotional win for Skinner, who started the weekend strongly with third in Saturday's race before securing the runner-up spot in the second race.
'To do that for the boys, Cheshire Mouldings Ducati, they've been with me through thick and thin – last year breaking my leg, and I had a really tough end to the year as well,' Skinner said.
'They stuck by me and believed in me, even when I didn't believe in myself.
'To have a triple podium weekend and be on the top step of the podium in the last race, I'm honestly quite emotional about it all.'
Fraser Rogers held on for third to claim his maiden BSB podium on the TAG Honda ahead of Christian Iddon, Storm Stacey and Max Cook.
Honda Racing's Andrew Irwin finished eighth in the finale, improving from 11th in the earlier race.
However, there was disappointment for Scott Swann, who failed to finish on the Send My Bag/IWR Honda. Swann was 17th in the opening race yesterday.
Scott Redding, riding the Hager PBM Ducati as a replacement for injury victim Glenn Irwin, was ninth.
Redding made his return to the championship on Saturday, claiming fourth in the dry.
Ray holds an advantage of 52 points in the standings after the first four rounds.
In the Supersport race, five-time champion Jack Kennedy won his second race of the season for Honda Racing UK in the rain, fending off Joe Talbot (Binch Pro Ducati) by just under one second.
The Dubliner is third in the championship, 15 points behind fellow southern Irishman Rhys Irwin, who won Saturday's race on the Performance 15 Suzuki from Kennedy.
'It was a really difficult race in those conditions, Joe kept me honest through the whole thing,' Kennedy said.
'I never got a minute's breathing space and he kept me honest to the end.
'The Honda CBR600 was amazing in that race, so I'm absolutely delighted, especially after the DNF at Snetterton; that puts us right back on the map now in the championship, so I couldn't have had a better weekend.'
Randalstown's Eugene McManus was seventh on the MMB Ducati with Fermanagh man Lee Johnston rounding out the top-10 on the Sencat by Swan Racing Triumph.
David Allingham was seventh in the Superstock 1000 race after sealing fourth on Saturday.
Brands Hatch in Kent hosts the fifth round from July 25-27.
Meanwhile, practice for the Southern 100 is due to take place on Monday evening on the Billown course, where Michael Dunlop, Davey Todd and Dean Harrison are in action on the Isle of Man.
Racing is scheduled to get underway on Tuesday at the four-day event, concluding on Thursday when the Solo Championship race takes top billing.
England's Todd won the blue riband race last year from Dunlop, who was last crowned Solo Champion in 2016.
