Rory Skinner was disappointed with a 19th place finish in the fifth round of the FIM Moto3 Junior World Championship at Circuito Albacete in Spain, despite challenging for a points-scoring position until the closing laps.
From his 23rd place start, Rory made an excellent getaway and inside the opening three laps, had made his way up to 16th position.
The Racing Steps Foundation-backed rider began tussling with the KTM of Enzo Boulom and Estrella Galicia 0,0/Honda of Jaume Masia with the trio regularly exchanging places.
Rory then mixed it with Aspar Mahindra’s Aaron Polanco and Dutch Racing Team’s Walid Soppe, to move into 13th position with only four laps remaining.
But in the closing stages, while riding in a group including Soppe, Boulom and Masia, Rory was pushed wide, over the kerb and into the gravel.
He managed to stop the bike and re-join the race, but lost over 15 seconds and was unable to recover further and was forced to settle for a 19th place finish.
Rory Skinner
“The weekend has gone well, and qualifying was not representative of how hard we pushed. Qualifying, in which the top 14 riders were covered by only a second, was disappointing but the race was going well for me.
With about three laps left, another rider came up my inside into turn nine and touched my leg. It stayed there and pushed me off the racing line, on to the kerb and finally into the gravel.
I managed to get the bike stopped and re-join, but the damage had been done. It’s so close in this championship and it’s teaching me more and more every weekend. I’d like to thank the whole KRP team for their help and efforts this weekend.”
Source: Racing Steps Foundation
Photo: Agusti Nubiola