SCOTTISH motorcycle racer Rory Skinner has been awarded the Pinhard Trophy from the Sunbeam Motorcycle Club, an award given to the best under-21 racing under the auspices of the ACU and SACU.
Rory picked up the trophy for his achievements in 2022 as he raced in the British Superbike Championship for the FS-3 Racing Kawasaki team. It was a season of big results for the youngster from Perth, as he grasped his chance in the premier BSB class with both hands, taking podiums at Silverstone and Cadwell Park, and pole position the fastest lap and two podiums at his home round of Knockhill. It was a season that also saw the 21-year-old claim a place in the record books, as he became the youngest rider ever to secure a spot in the Showdown phase of the championship.
Speaking about his first trophy of 2023, Rory said:
“To be awarded with the Pinhard Trophy is a massive honour. To have my name on a trophy alongside the greats of the sport is something I am very proud of. I am grateful to everyone at the SACU for putting my name forward for this award and even though I will be abroad for a large majority of the season I look forward to attending my local club’s race meetings.”
2023 sees Rory move back into the cut-and-thrust world of the MotoGP paddock, as he takes on the Moto2 championship with the American Racing Team. The move back to the world of Grand Prix racing came off the back of two wildcard rides in Moto2 last year. Rory stepped up for the British GP at Silverstone, and the Austrian GP at the Red Bull ring, performing at such a level that they snapped him up for the 2023 season.
