SKINNER & KENT TO LINE UP FOR CHESHIRE MOULDINGS YAMAHA IN 2026
TAS Racing is thrilled to announce Danny Kent and Rory Skinner in a two-rider team for the upcoming 2026 British Superbike Championship. A change of machinery will see the aforementioned riders campaigning Cheshire Mouldings’ Yamaha YZF-R1M Superbikes this term. The Northern Irish team’s aspirations are quite simply, to add a BSB title to their extensive ‘palmares’ in British Championship racing.
We are very pleased to continue our association with Cheshire Mouldings for a third season in British Superbike. Their support and enthusiasm, we believe, is unrivalled, so we look forward to welcoming staff and guests at all 11 rounds in 2026 and of course delivering on track in their impressive livery.
TAS Racing is not new to the Yamaha marque: their return to racing in 1999 was with Ian Lougher campaigning the iconic Yamaha R71. Team principal Philip Neill opened his racing account on a Yamaha YZ80, and his father Hector’s introduction to racing sponsorship, was purchasing a TZ250, back in the halcyon days of two stroke competition.
We will welcome a host of new sponsors over the coming weeks, but 2026 will see a return to TAS Racing for a firm favourite, Michael Laverty. A former rider with the team and a well-known figure in two-wheel circles globally, Michael will bring his MLAV Racing brand under the TAS awning, as a welcome partner for 2026.
We would obviously like to welcome Danny Kent to the team, a proven winner already on Yamaha’s YZF-R1M in the BSB series, not forgetting a world championship title, firmly embedded on his curriculum vitae. Rory Skinner will enter his third season with the team, and it’s fair to say, he is counting down the days to the start of the season.
#52 DANNY KENT
“I’m very pleased and honoured to be riding a Cheshire Mouldings’ Yamaha. Firstly, I would like to say a massive thank you to TAS Racing, Cheshire Mouldings and everyone involved for giving me this opportunity, and although it’s a new team for me, this will be my third year on a Yamaha. I will be working again with Chris Anderson (Spanner) as my crew chief – so the goal is to continue how we finished 2025, and that’s winning races.”
#11 RORY SKINNER
“I’m really excited to be starting year three with the TAS Racing team, so thanks to everyone for having me onboard for another year. Obviously, another change of manufacturer for us moving to Yamaha, but I’m very motivated for the championship, as I think it’s going to be our best opportunity yet to flourish. I can’t wait now to get testing on the Cheshire Mouldings’ Yamaha; it will be an exciting year and great to have Danny in the team. That’s a new dynamic for me at TAS, having a team-mate, but I think it will be good for both of us. The goal for us both is to be competitive at the front, and we can no doubt push each other on to bigger and better things.”
PHILIP NEILL
“It is absolutely fantastic to announce another year with Cheshire Mouldings as our title partner. You couldn’t wish for more enthusiastic partners in John and Jacquie, and the company now being a part of the Summit Timber Group further strengthens the brand.
We are back to a two-rider Superbike team which is more the minority than ‘the norm’ these days in BSB, so it’s great to have secured this once again with two accomplished riders in Danny and Rory.
The switch to Yamaha machinery is exciting but not as new as you might think. We started our 27 year journey as TAS Racing running a Yamaha in our return to racing; to further add to this, my first proper race bike was a Yamaha YZ80 and my Father Hector’s first endeavours in the road racing world was with a Yamaha TZ, so you might say we are returning to where we started.
Last but certainly not least, it really is great to confirm MLAV Racing as a partner for 2026. Michael and I have worked on this idea for a very long time and after spending many happy years working together in different forms, I’m excited at what this relationship will bring to the future of the team.”
