Rory Skinner is loving life as he makes his Moto2 World Championship debut in front of the home crowds at Silverstone this weekend.

Having climbed aboard the American Racing Kalex for the first time on Friday, Skinner was overjoyed to have battled to tenth in the Saturday’s Q1 - placing him 24th on the grid for Sunday’s 18-lap race.

The Scot’s 2’05.937 lap in the afternoon sunshine saw a two-second progression from his Friday morning best, with the 2020 British Supersport Champion bettering, amongst others,  experienced racer Simone Corsi and teammate Sean Dylan Kelly.

“I don't really have words at the minute!" Skinner said as the session came to a close. “That to me just feels like a massive win already.

“Just every session we've gone out we've found bits of time and today I really clicked with the bike. Yesterday I was maybe a bit like mentally overloaded, just with everything being so new but I had a good sleep last night, came into this morning with a fresh head. We changed a little bit on the bike from FP3 to qualifying - which is the first change we kind of made all weekend - and just found a bit of time.

“To have done a 2'05.9 on my second day on a Moto2 bike, I think it was 1.4 off the top guy there in Q1, so I'm mega happy. To be out here racing with the best of them in the world, it's awesome!  

"Massive thank you to Eitan [Bitbul] and John [Hopkins] from American Racing and Darren [Fry] and Nigel [Snook] as well from my team back home. FS-3 Racing, for allowing me to take this opportunity, without them it wouldn't be possible. I'm lost for words.

“I had a really awesome first day. It’s amazing to be making my debut in front of the home crowd. I really enjoyed my first experience with the Moto2 bike and working with the American Racing Team.

“Every time I get on the bike, it feels a little bit more like mine. I just start to understand things a little bit more and more each time I ride it. It's really different to the Superbikes back home but I'm getting there step by step and we're working well as a team to make the best we can.”