Expansion and bike switch confirmed for race winning BSB team in 2026

The TAS Racing team has confirmed its 2026 British Superbike Championship rider line-up, as it expands to two riders and swaps manufacturers.

Rory Skinner stays with the team for a third straight BSB season, and for a third manufacturer, in 2026, with TAS swapping Ducati for Yamaha after one year on the Panigale V4 R (which followed a season with BMW in 2024).

Danny Kent, who was left without a ride at the end of last season when the Mar-Train team withdrew from BSB, also joins the team and will contest his third season of BSB with Yamaha.

“I’m very pleased and honoured to be riding a Cheshire Mouldings Yamaha,” said Kent.

“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 as my crew chief – so the goal is to continue how we finished 2025, and that’s winning races.”

Skinner added: “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 [Kent] 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.”

For team principal Philip Neill, the move to a two rider team is evidence of TAS Racing’s position in BSB compared to some of its rival teams, while the switch to Yamaha has a historical aspect.

“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 [Kent] and Rory [Skinner]. 

“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 [Neill] first endeavours in the road racing world was with a Yamaha TZ, so you might say we are returning to where we started.”

The third element of TAS Racing’s 2026 plans involved Michael Laverty, whose MLav Racing team has collaborated with TAS for this season.

“Last but certainly not least, it really is great to confirm MLav Racing as a partner for 2026,” Neill said.

“Michael [Laverty] 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.”