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Perth's Rory Skinner wins RSF backing FOR International Moto3

Multiple champion to compete in 2015 Spanish Cup and Junior World Championship

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."

Further information available from:

Peter Ball. M: +44 (0)774 763 6810.
E: peter.ball@racingsteps.com / peterbimpact@aol.com
Peter Ormiston. T: +44 (0)161 485 1795. M: +44 (0)771 308 5408.
E: peter.ormiston@racingsteps.com
W: www.racingsteps.com
Racing Steps Foundation background

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).

In parallel the RSF will also continue to provide a substantial support package for the Academy run by the Motor Sports Association, the FIA's approved governing body for motorsport in Britain.

The Academy is responsible for young driver support initiatives, performance master classes, an Advanced Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence, and Team UK - an elite national squad comprising some of the country's best up-and-coming drivers including the RSF's Harvey and Dennis.

Rory Skinner's 2015 RSF Moto3 race calendar

RFME Spanish Cup
Mar 27-29                        Albacete (Round 1 / Race 1)
May 29-31                        Jerez (Round 2 / Races 2&3) 
Jun 26-28                        Alcarras (Round 3 / Race 4)
Jul 24-26                          Aragon (Round 4 / Races 5&6)
Oct 16-18                         Navarra (Round 6 / Race 8) 

Rory will miss Round 5 of the Spanish Cup due to the conflicting demands of the Red Bull Rookies Cup in which he will also compete during 2015. The seven-round series runs alongside the MotoGP rounds in Europe

FIM CEV Moto3 Junior World Championship
Oct 02-04                       Navarra (Round 6 / Race 8)        
Oct 30-Nov 01               Jerez (Round 7 / Races 9&10) 
Nov 13-15                      Valencia (Round 8 / Races 11&12) 


Rory will take part in the majority of the Junior World Championship team tests throughout the season but cannot compete in the races until he reaches the age of 14 in September.

Rory Skinner's Moto3 race bikes

The KRP-Honda and FTR-KTM Moto3 250cc, single-cylinder, four-stroke prototypes that Rory Skinner will race in 2015 have a top speed of 240kph / 149mph (dependent on circuit and gearing) and can accelerate from 0-100kph / 0-62mph in 3.4s and 0-165kph / 0-102.5mph in 8.3s. Front and rear disk brakes enable the bikes to decelerate from 100-0kph / 62-0mph in less than four seconds.

Rory Skinner's race CV

Born 27 September 2001, Perth, Scotland
Lives Craigie, Perth, Scotland
Education Year 9 pupil, Perth High School

2014 Aprilia Superteens Championship: Champion. Races: 27/34. Wins: 17. Poles: 10. Podiums: 26. FLs: 13. Moriwaki 250 Junior Cup: Races: 3/14 (wildcard rides only). Wins: 0. Poles: 0. Podiums: 1. FLs: 0. Knockhill Motor Sports Club Scottish Lightweights Championship:
(125GP-650 Supertwins): Races: 8/20. Wins: 0. Poles: 0. Podiums: 3. FLs: 1. Other: Selected for 2015 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup

2013 Knockhill Motor Sports Club F125 Championship: Champion (on GP80). Races: 16/20. Wins: 16. Poles: 15. Podiums: 16. FLs: 15. Melville Motorcycle Club F125 Open Championship: Champion (on GP80). Races: 7/7. Wins: 6. Poles: 7. Podiums: 6. FLs: 6. Melville Motorcycle Club F125 Club Championship: Champion (on GP80). Races: 8/8. Wins: 7. Poles: 8. Podiums: 8. FLs: 7. Aprilia Superteens Championship: Races: 4/34. Wins: 1. Poles: 0. Podiums: 1. FLs: 1 (youngest Superteens race winner since series inception). Awards: Scottish Auto Cycle Union 'best novice', Niall Mackenzie Trophy ('best novice')

2012 British GP70 Metrakit Championship: Champion. Races: 21/21. Wins: 20. Poles: 21. Podiums: 20. FLs: 21. British Junior Production Minimoto Championship: Champion. Races: 21/21. Wins: 17. Poles: 15. Podiums: 20. FLs: 12

2011 British GP50 Metrakit Championship: Champion. Races: 21/21. Wins: 16. Poles: 21. Podiums: 21. FLs: 16. British Junior Minimoto Championship: Champion. Races: 21/21. Wins: 21. Poles: 21. Podiums: 21. FLs: 21. British Junior Production Minimoto Championship: Champion. Races: 19/21. Wins: 17. Poles: 16. Podiums: 19. FLs: 15

2010 Scottish Junior Minimoto Championship: Champion. Races: 21/24. Wins: 19. Poles: 18. Podiums: 21. FLs: 20. British Junior Minimoto Championship: Champion. Races: 21/21. Wins: 12. Poles: 12. Podiums: 16. FLs: 12. British Junior Production Minimoto Championship: Champion. Races: 12/12. Wins: 5. Poles: 1. Podiums: 6. FLs: 5