Cook serves up perfect starter for AJN Steelstock bimota
Max Cook continued his perfect start in the 2026 British Superbike Championship by topping the times on the final day of the R&G Official Test at Donington Park for the AJN Steelstock bimota team, holding off Cheshire Mouldings Yamaha’s Danny Kent by 0.285s.
Cook had continued to build momentum throughout the two days on track as the new bimota KB988 Rimini Superbike made its BSB debut at Donington Park, setting his fastest lap midway through the final session of the day.
Kent stormed to second in the final session of the day for Cheshire Mouldings Yamaha, just 0.030s ahead of teammate Rory Skinner with Honda Racing UK’s Ryan Vickers and Bradley Ray completing the top five for McAMS Yamaha.
Kyle Ryde was sixth fastest overall on a non-BSB specification Ducati as the defending champion counts down to his first test on the new Nitrous Competitions Racing Ducati.
Andrew Irwin debuted with the MET fonaCAB Racing team in seventh place ahead of their first season in the championship, just 0.009s adrift of Ryde with Christian Iddon on the Sencat Racing Yamaha posting the eighth fastest time.
Previous champions Josh Brookes and Leon Haslam completed the top ten as the teams and riders now prepare for the final R&G Official Test at Oulton Park on April 21/22 ahead of the season opener.
British Superbike Championship, R&G Official Test, Donington Park, overall combined times**:
1. Max Cook (AJN Steelstock bimota) 1m:27.184s
2. Danny Kent (Cheshire Mouldings Yamaha) +0.285s
3. Rory Skinner (Cheshire Mouldings Yamaha) +0.315s
4. Ryan Vickers (Honda Racing UK) +0.409s
5. Bradley Ray (McAMS Yamaha) +0.454s
6. Kyle Ryde (Nitrous Competitions Racing Ducati) +0.463s*
7. Andrew Irwin (MET fonaCAB Racing) +0.472s
8. Christian Iddon (Sencat Racing Yamaha) +0.512s
9. Josh Brookes (DAO Racing Honda) +0.759s
10. Leon Haslam (Moto Rapido Racing) +0.819s
* Note 1: Non-BSB specification
** Note 2: Race-event level track limits detection at Turn 9/10 not active.
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